Charity Spotlight: Royal London Society for Blind People
Each month, we’re highlighting a local charity working in a range of ways to make our communities better. This month we talked to Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB). RLSB was formed in 1838 and whose main aim is stop childhood sight loss becoming a lifelong disability. Through a blend of education, sport, creative and developmental services, they support blind and partially sighted young people to unleash their potential and live and learn for the life they want.
1. Tell us about the charity.
You may be forgiven for thinking that the worst thing about being blind is not being able to see. But here at the Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB), we know that there is a hard reality to childhood sight loss that is little known to the public.
- 1 in 4 blind and partially sighted children under 12 are depressed
- 40 percent of blind children don’t have neighbourhood friends to play with
- 90 percent of those who lose their sight in youth won’t work for more than six months in their lives
- 2/3 of blind and partially sighted people are on the poverty line
It’s time to change the game for blind children and young people. At the RLSB, our expert family therapists work side by side with parents to support blind young Londoners to discover the skills and confidence they need to take control of their lives. We are set on ensuring that every blind young person should have the chance to live life without limits.
Covering London and the southeast, RLSB’s team of professional experts are on hand to provide support from the early years, before and during their time at school, to more practical work-related support such as interview coaching. We do this through a range of high-quality, person-centred services including:
- Parenting courses including downloadable resources
- Early-years groups and a nursery
- Specialist further education college
- Sports clubs and programmes
- Social and peer groups
- Independent-living skills workshops
2. What are your funding sources?
RLSB’s services are kindly funded by a wide variety of donors as well as trusts, community groups, corporate organisations and our fantastic individual donors.
3. What are the obstacles your organisation faces?
At RLSB, we always want to do more by working towards our vision of London becoming one of the most accessible and welcoming cities in the world for blind and partially sighted people.
We can only do this by expanding our services into every community so every blind and partially sighted child and young person in London and the southeast, and their families, can have access to the services they require. However, our main obstacles are a lack of resources, awareness of the reality of childhood sight loss and funding for our life-changing services.
4. Do you hold fundraising events throughout the year?
This summer, RLSB will host our second annual London Without Limits festival—a series of surprising, sensory and sociable events to help raise awareness and donations to help defeat the lonely reality of childhood sight loss.
These events have a sensory twist, in which participants are encouraged to wear blindfolds to heighten their experience and to get a brief glimpse into what it is like to have a vision impairment. Whether you’re a food fanatic, a wine connoisseur or a music lover, London Without Limits has something for everyone. You can find out more about the festival on the London Without Limits website.
We also hold many other fundraising events throughout the year, from our annual Blindfold Run to school fancy dress days and company events. Download our fundraising ideas pack for more details.
5. How can people get involved?
Our London Without Limits festival is an open series of events in June this year which everybody can get involved with and support.
If you’ve got an inspirational idea about a larger-scale event in your area or that your business could support, or if you’d like to come along to the gigs or dining events at this year’s festival, then please don’t hesitate in contacting us on 0207 808 6172 or via email, Media@rlsb.org.uk.
For more information about opportunities to volunteer with the blind young people that we work with or to make a donation to our cause please visit the Royal London Society for Blind People website.
