RNC’s IMPACT Programme

Technology has a vital part to play in ensuring that all people with a visual impairment can engage with their community on an equal footing. From a pensioner experiencing sight loss who wishes to remain independent in their own home to a job seeker trying to get a foot on the career ladder, IT has the potential to offer solutions.

RNC is already a centre of excellence for further education and for employment training. With 1.86 million people in the UK living with sight loss which has a significant impact on their daily lives, the need to provide a range of accessible training services across the UK is becoming an urgent and essential. We are therefore designing solutions, in consultation with the visually impaired community, which can not only enhance what we offer at our base in Hereford, but which can also reach people across the country.

At RNC we work closely with other like-minded organisations to ensure that the needs of the individual are heard, and subsequently met. We know that we cannot meet everyone’s needs alone; where we cannot, our aim is to form partnerships to deliver relevant services across the UK.

Our IMPACT programme will allow for investment in training, outreach, research and development to address the greatest needs. IMPACT stands for:

Independence

Mobility

Personalisation

Accessibility

Creativity

Training

Over the next five years IMPACT will expand our current offer by developing a variety of opportunities and initiatives. One of our key aims is to reach those who cannot attend a residential college and are missing out on support which could improve their chances of entering or remaining in the workplace, and of enjoying an independent life. This could include:

• a mum who is the primary care giver for her children, who would like to gain IT skills to enable her to communicate with family and friends, help her children with their homework and access online services such as  shopping and banking

• A student who wishes to attend a mainstream college in their home area but whose teachers do not understand assistive technology, leaving them reliant upon others and unable to work independently

• A professional with deteriorating sight whose job is at risk but who could remain in employment with the right equipment and training

IMPACT will also enable us to invest in our existing services as a residential further education college and employment training centre, and we will continue to develop and improve our offer to meet and exceed the expectations of our student body.

We are currently working with private individuals and trusts to complete the first stage of fundraising to support IMPACT.  As we progress the programme we will add further information to this website. In the meantime, if you would like to know more, or would like to get involved, please contact us via campaign@rnc.ac.uk or call 01432 376 371.