Royal National Institute of Blind People

UK blindness charity

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RNIB

Royal National Institute of Blind People

Formation| 16 October 1868 (1868-10-16)
Type| Registered charity
Headquarters| 154a Pentonville Road, London N1 9JE
Location|

* London

Coordinates| 51°31′54″N 0°06′53″W﻿ / ﻿51.5317°N 0.1148°W﻿ / 51.5317; -0.1148

Region served

| United Kingdom

Chief Executive

| Matt Stringer

Key people

| Anna Tylor (Chair)[1]
Website| rnib.org.uk

Formerly called

| British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind;
British and Foreign Blind Association;
National Institute for the Blind;
Royal National Institute for the Blind;
Royal National Institute of the Blind

RNIB (formally, the Royal National Institute of Blind People and previously the Royal National Institute for the Blind) is a British charity, founded in 1868, that serves people living with visual impairments.[2] It is regarded as a leader in the field in supporting people in the UK who have vision loss.[3] The organisation seeks to increase awareness of the lived experiences of people who are blind or partially sighted. Additionally, it campaigns to make services such as healthcare, education and public transport safer and more accessible to people with visual impairments.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales investigated the charity from 2015 to 2019 due to allegations of sexual abuse at the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning.[4] The commission's findings said that the RNIB's failings included medication errors and undocumented cases of physical restraint at its schools and residential facilities.[5][6] The commission's chief executive said it was one of the worst examples they had uncovered of the impact of poor governance and oversight.[7]

## Organisation

[edit]

Anna Tylor, who is partially sighted,[8] has been RNIB's Chair since 2020.[1] Matt Stringer was appointed Chief Executive in 2019.[9]

King Charles III is the charity's Patron.[10] His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was RNIB's Patron throughout her reign (1952–2022).[11]

## History

[edit]

RNIB was first established on 16 October 1868 as the British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind.[12][13] The first meeting, which was held at 33 Cambridge Square, Hyde Park, London, involved founder Thomas Rhodes Armitage (a physician who was partially sighted) and Daniel Conolly, W W Fenn[a] and Dr James Gale[b] (all three of whom were blind).[13] Later, the organisation became the British and Foreign Blind Association for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind and Promoting the Employment of the Blind – generally shortened to the British and Foreign Blind Association.[13]

In 1914, the organisation changed its name to The National Institute for the Blind, or NIB, to reflect its status as a national body involved in all aspects of the welfare of blind people.[12] The organisation was officially renamed the Royal National Institute for the Blind in 1953, having been granted a Royal Charter in 1949.[16] In 2002, the organisation was renamed the Royal National Institute of the Blind ("of" rather than "for" blind people) when it became a membership organisation.[12] To coincide with the launch of the UK Vision Strategy in 2008, it was renamed the Royal National Institute of Blind People.[12]

In October 2008, RNIB and Action for Blind People agreed in principle to combine some services across England. The new arrangement began in April 2009, resulting in Action for Blind People becoming an associate charity of RNIB.[17] It merged with RNIB in 2017.

### Scope

[edit]

RNIB's remit has always included reading and writing (e.g. Braille), education and employment.[18][19] From the 20th century, welfare/social support has been important.[20][19] However, it was not till the late 1980s that eye health became a major focus.[19] Previously, eye health was seen as the sole prerogative of ophthalmologists and optometrists.[19]

### Premises

[edit]

In 1914, the organisation relocated to larger premises in Great Portland Street.[12] From 2000 until 2023, RNIB operated from premises on Judd Street, in Bloomsbury, London, which it shared with Guide Dogs.[21]

In 2023, The Duchess of Edinburgh opened the organisation's new headquarters in the Grimaldi Building on Pentonville Road, London, which has been adapted to cater for the needs of people who are blind, partially sighted or neurodiverse.[3][22][23]

## Programmes and services

[edit]

### Helpline

[edit]

RNIB's helpline gives access to sight loss experts for questions and guidance.[24]

### Reading services

[edit]

RNIB's extensive range of reading services include RNIB Bookshare – a free library of over one million items, which supports students and others in education with a vast collection of accessible textbooks and materials[25] – and Talking Books, a service first established in 1935,[26] which offers thousands of audio books, both fiction and non-fiction.[27]

### Eye Care Liaison Officers

[edit]

RNIB’s ECLO (Eye Care Liaison Officers) service aims to help patients understand the impact of a sight loss diagnosis and to direct them to appropriate sources of support.[28]

### Sooty collection boxes

[edit]

Since the 1950s, the children's puppet character Sooty is an exclusive feature on the charity's collection boxes.[29][30]

## Campaigning

[edit]

RNIB campaigns to change behaviours and perceptions around sight loss.[8] It has been involved with several large-scale campaigns including calls for action to create a safer and more inclusive public transport system. In 2023, the charity played a key role[31][32][33] in a national campaign to scrap plans to close ticket offices in train stations.[34]

In 2022, the charity launched its largest-ever advertising campaign, See the person, not the sight loss, to raise awareness of sight loss and the support that people who have visual impairments might need.[35][36][37]

Along with other leading health charities, RNIB lobbied throughout 2023 for better disability support across the National Health Service (NHS).[38]

### Mandatory secret ballots for people with visual impairments

[edit]

The charity has campaigned for mandatory secret ballots for people with visual impairments.[39] After the 2024 general election RNIB delivered an open letter to 10 Downing Street highlighting that according to its research roughly 87% of the UK's citizens with visual impairments were denied their right to vote in secret.[40]

The campaign follows a 2019 court judgement that declared the UK's current voting arrangements for people with blindness or visual impairments to be unlawful. RNIB pointed out that in spite of the judgement, the majority of the UK's visually impaired voters do so using technology that requires them to be accompanied into the voting booth and have their choices read aloud by an assistant.[39]

As of 2024[update] only one person living with blindness in the UK has voted in secret, using a device known as the McGonagle Reader. This comprises an audio player with headphones and a plastic template to locate the boxes on the paper.[41]

## Charity Commission inquiry

[edit]

In 2015, the Charity Commission for England and Wales launched an inquiry into RNIB following serious allegations of systemic failings within the organisation[6][non-primary source needed] and allegations of abusive and sexually abusive practices.[4][42] The inquiry found significant management, oversight, and staffing shortcomings had led to repeated incidents where young people in the charity's care were put at risk or harmed.[5] The Charity Commission's chief executive described this investigation as "one of the worst examples we have uncovered of poor governance and oversight having a direct impact on vulnerable people."[43] The Commission stated that RNIB's corporate stewardship of services for children with complex needs fell far short of expectations[5] and that the charity's board had been focused on narrow regulatory compliance and dismissive of criticism from the regulatory organisations it was accountable to – the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.[44][45]

The Charity Commission's report stated that the RNIB had failed to protect its beneficiaries from coming to harm. Moreover, serious safeguarding breaches had occurred within the charity due to systemic weaknesses and the absence of a centralised data-management system for its care settings.[44][45] As part of the inquiry, the Charity Commission heard from multiple parties involved with the charity who attributed its failings to dysfunctional leadership and governance over many years.[45]

It also found that the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning, a residential school near Coventry, failed to ensure its staff had adequate training, made multiple administration errors, neglected to document incidents of physical restraint, lacked effective safeguarding procedures, and administered the wrong medication on numerous occasions.[5] The inquiry also found inadequate responses to complaints about unexplained injuries and improper management of medical care, possibly due to a reliance on unqualified and temporary staff.[citation needed]

In September 2018 RNIB announced that both the children's home and school would close in November 2018.[46]

Two of the charity's institutional creditors considered it to have defaulted on its credit agreement terms because of the Pears Centre's regulatory difficulties and Ofted's proposed cancellation of the establishment's registration. Therefore, its creditors declared that the organisation had to pay £21 million immediately.[6] Subsequently, in 2020, RNIB was selling all 18 of its care homes and schools to mitigate its financial trouble.[5]

The charity's former chief executive and four of its trustees resigned at the start of the inquiry. Five RNIB staff members were referred to the Disclosure and Barring Service after an audit uncovered 26 unreported serious incidents across the charity's facilities from March 2017 to April 2018.[42]

RNIB’s chief executive, Matt Stringer, apologised for the failings.[42] RNIB said that the Charity Commission's findings "represent a low point in our 152-year history" and claimed to have "turn[ed] the service around" in response to the inquiry and report.[47]

The inquiry concluded that the charity placed its beneficiaries at undue risk of harm and in some occasions actual harm.[4] The Charity Commission gave the RNIB an official warning and issued it with a legal order implementing a plan to overhaul its culture, governance and management.[4] The legally mandated plan also included "the transfer of care homes, schools and college to new specialist providers".[6] In light of RNIB's progress in fulfilling the action plan, the Charity Commission withdrew its adverse decision in June 2022.[6]

## See also

[edit]

* British Wireless for the Blind Fund
* National Library for the Blind
* RNIB Connect Radio
* RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning
* Royal London Society for Blind People
* Royal National College for the Blind
* Tiresias (typeface)
* Visionary (charity)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ William Wilthew Fenn (1827–1906) was a landscape painter and author.[14]
2. ^ James Gale (1833–1907) was an inventor from Devon.[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b White, Peter (15 December 2020). The RNIB's New Chair Of Trustees Anna Tylor. BBC (In Touch broadcast on Radio 4). Retrieved 8 July 2024.
2. ^ "RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)". Information Now. Newcastle City Council Adult Social Care and Prevention. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
3. ^ a b Watchman, Joanna (31 July 2023). "RNIB office: first UK building to fully adopt BSI neurodiversity standard". Work in Mind. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
4. ^ a b c d Brown, David (25 June 2020). "Faith in charities is eroding, watchdog warns". The Times. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
5. ^ a b c d e Butler, Patrick (25 June 2020). "Children at RNIB schools and homes put at risk, charity regulator finds". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
6. ^ a b c d e "Charity Inquiry: The Royal National Institute of Blind People (226227) and RNIB Charity (1156629)". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
7. ^ Layton, Josh (26 June 2020). "Damning report lists 'serious failings' at RNIB centre in Coventry". Coventry Live. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
8. ^ a b Oliver, Toby (1 July 2024). "RNIB campaign to get better voting access for blind people". Hampshire Chronicle. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
9. ^ Weakley, Kirsty (25 April 2019). "RNIB appoints Matt Stringer as new chief executive". Civil Society. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
10. ^ McCormick, Emily (29 May 2024). "RNIB appoints King Charles as royal patron". Optometry Today. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
11. ^ Young, Kimberley; Powell, Selina (9 September 2022). "Tributes paid to Queen Elizabeth II". Optometry Today. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
12. ^ a b c d e "Royal National Institute of Blind People 1868". Science Museum Group. London. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
13. ^ a b c Thomas, p.113
14. ^ Bassett, Troy J. "Author: William Wilthew Fenn". At the Circulating Library: A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
15. ^ Plummer, John (1868). The Story of a Blind Inventor: Being Some Account of the Life and Labours of Dr. James Gale. William Tweedie. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
16. ^ Thomas, pp.142-43.
17. ^ Little, Matthew (24 October 2009). "RNIB and Action for Blind People announce 'associate' deal". Third Sector. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
18. ^ Thomas
19. ^ a b c d Rose
20. ^ Thomas
21. ^ Wait, Sam (23 January 2023). "Guide Dogs moves out of RNIB office share after five years". Civil Society. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
22. ^ "HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh opens the RNIB's new London office". Greater London Lieutenancy. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
23. ^ Pearson, Andrew (6 November 2023). "RNIB's new HQ becomes exemplar in designing for blind and neurodiverse people". Royal Institute of British Architects. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
24. ^ Hemmings, Beth (27 June 2023). "In Touch: The Support Hub; The RNIB's Helpline Services". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
25. ^ "Accessibility: RNIB Bookshare". University of Exeter Library. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
26. ^ "How the Talking Book was born". The History Press. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
27. ^ "Talking books and audio publications". Blind Veterans UK. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
28. ^ "CarePlace directory – Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) – support for blind and partially sighted people". London Borough of Hounslow. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
29. ^ Dickenson, Andy (28 February 2022). "Volunteers needed to collect 'Sooty boxes' as blind charity's takings fall". ITV News. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
30. ^ "Sooty's RNIB Make-Over to Help Raise Funds". Living with Disabiltiy. August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
31. ^ "Train firms plan mass closures of ticket offices". BBC News. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
32. ^ Topham, Gwyn (5 July 2023). "Plans for mass closure of railway ticket offices in England confirmed". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
33. ^ Simone, Carlo (5 July 2024). "Why could train station ticket offices be shut in England?". The Standard. Chester. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
34. ^ Munro, Craig (5 July 2023). "Almost every rail ticket office in England to be closed in next three years". Metro. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
35. ^ Louis, Yasmeen (30 October 2023). "RNIB dispels myths to 'see the person, not the sight loss'". Marketing/ Beat. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
36. ^ "RNIB launches new campaign to dispel myths and encourage people to 'See the person, not the sight loss'". Eye News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
37. ^ Mahtani, Nisna (8 November 2022). "Why the RNIB Wants You to 'See the Person, Not the Sight Loss'". Little Black Book. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
38. ^ Pickover, Ella (6 February 2023). "Concern over lack of progress supporting people with communication needs in NHS". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
39. ^ a b Weaver, Matthew (26 June 2024). "Make this the last inaccessible election for blind people in UK, campaigners demand". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
40. ^ McIvor, Liane (3 July 2024). "RNIB campaigns to improve voting access for blind and partially sighted people". Thiis. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
41. ^ Waple, Katie (3 July 2024). "Blind woman to vote in secret for first time". BBC News. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
42. ^ a b c Watt, Holly (5 April 2018). "RNIB and subsidiary under investigation over abuse allegation". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
43. ^ Layton, Josh (26 June 2020). "Damning report lists 'serious failings' at RNIB children's centre in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
44. ^ a b Rosa Royle, Orianna (25 June 2020). "Serious mismanagement at RNIB exposed vulnerable people to risk, regulator finds". Third Sector. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
45. ^ a b c Weakley, Kirsty (25 June 2020). "RNIB's governance failures led to young people being harmed, inquiry finds". Civil Society. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
46. ^ Powell, Selina (14 September 2018). "RNIB Pears Centre to close following safeguarding concerns". Optometry Today. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
47. ^ Mullen, Edna (7 September 2018). "Children's home and school for blind children to close in wake of damning Ofsted report". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

## Sources

[edit]

* Rose, June (1970). Changing Focus: the development of blind welfare in Britain. London: Hutchinson. ISBN 009100490X.
* Thomas, Mary G (1957). The Royal National Institute for the Blind 1868–1956. Brighton Herald.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* "The Royal National Institute of Blind People, registered charity no. 226227". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
* RNIB Connect Radio – the radio station of RNIB
* RNIB Sightline Directory of services and organisations that help blind and partially sighted people in the UK

* v
* t
* e

Organisations for visually impaired people in the United Kingdom

Charities|

* Action for Blind People
* Blind in Business
* BlindArt
* Blind Veterans UK
* Bradbury Fields
* British Blind Sport
* Cardiff Institute for the Blind
* Fight for Sight
* Galloway's Society for the Blind
* The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
* Henshaws Society for Blind People
* Kent Association for the Blind
* Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People
* Nalsvi
* National Library for the Blind
* Royal London Society for Blind People
* RNIB
* SeeAbility
* Sightsavers
* Vista
* Warwickshire Vision Support

Assistive technology|

* Dolphin Computer Access

Leisure|

* Traveleyes

Media|

* RNIB Connect Radio
* Talking Newspaper Association of the UK

Schools and colleges|

* Dorton House
* Exhall Grange School
* Jordanstown Schools
* Joseph Clarke School
* Linden Lodge School
* New College Worcester
* Queen Alexandra College
* RNIB College, Loughborough
* RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning
* Royal Blind School
* Royal National College for the Blind
* Royal School for the Blind (Liverpool)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2

National|

* Germany
* United States
* 2
* Norway
* Israel

Academics|

* CiNii

Artists|

* ULAN

People|

* Trove

Other|

* IdRef
* MusicBrainz label

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