RNC and Sargeants partner to build accessible travel skills 

For many people, catching a bus is an everyday activity. But for young people with a visual impairment (V.I.), the combination of engine noise, crowded aisles, and unfamiliar layouts can make bus travel feel overwhelming. 

To support students in developing the confidence and skills needed for independent travel, The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) partnered with Sargeants buses for a unique accessibility session on Thursday 26 March. 

Ashley Smith, Transport Manager, and Bus Driver Nicola Preece brought one of the company’s new buses directly onto the RNC campus, giving students a rare opportunity to explore and familiarise themselves with a bus in a calm, controlled setting.

Exploring home care at Kemble at Home

In mid-March, teachers Charlotte and Annie accompanied Health and Social Care students Alleah, Huw, and Oscar to the Kemble at Home training facility, a specialist 'at home' care provider in Herefordshire.

It was a productive visit for both our Level 3 students, who are currently studying Manual Handling, and our Level 2 students, who are focusing on Safeguarding. 

The visit gave the students a great opportunity to get hands-on with the equipment, taking turns as both the carer and the service user to understand how to move individuals safely within their homes. 

It was also a privilege to speak with Jason, the Registered Manager, who shared his expertise on how the service manages real-world safeguarding issues. 

We would like to say a huge thank you to Jason for hosting us and providing such an informative experience for the group.

Students embrace French culture in Lyon

Students spent a brilliant week in France travelling to Cité scolaire René Pellet in Lyon! From start to finish, they squeezed in so many experiences and made memories that will stay with them for a long time. From the moment they touched down, our students jumped straight into the local way of life. The group embraced every opportunity to experience life as a student in France.

Students explore inclusive career pathways at PureGym

Our Sport and Recreation students recently had the opportunity to attend a Career Day at PureGym Hereford, hosted by former student Jack Cooper, now Assistant Manager within the PureGym organisation. 

Jack gave a warm and inspiring welcome to our Level 1 Fitness and Physical Activity, Level 2 Fitness Instructor, and Level 3 Personal Training students, along with staff. He delivered a professional presentation sharing his journey from studying at RNC, completing his fitness and personal training qualifications, to building a successful and progressing career with PureGym. 

He spoke about the ongoing support he has received within the organisation and how PureGym offers a wide range of employment opportunities. As one of the fastest-growing gym franchises in the world, with over 600 gyms globally, it was fantastic for students to gain insight into how the business operates and the career pathways available. 

Students engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session, asking insightful questions about working in the fitness industry. Jack then led an inclusive, studio-based fitness class, giving students a hands-on experience of the type of sessions delivered to PureGym members. The visit also included a tour of the facilities, where students explored the equipment and scale of the gym environment. 

This experience was a valuable opportunity for our students and staff to stay up to date with industry standards, while gaining inspiration for future careers. Pure Gym’s ethos of “Everybody’s Welcome” and its commitment to inclusivity, including opportunities for people with disabilities, strongly resonated with everyone involved. 

A huge thank you to Jack and centre Manager Steve for their time, professionalism, and continued support in inspiring our students!

Beat, bang, bong!

In March students participated in a drumming workshop with Bym from Beat Bang Bong. Bym provides energising drumming sessions.

For this visit he introduced students to upcycled plastic drums - a selection of old drums, canisters and buckets - destined for landfill that now have purpose in an upcycled plastic band. It just goes to show you don't need fancy equipment to create sound, just imagination. 

Apart from the environmental benefits, drumming itself creates significant neurological benefits. Learning rhythms and patterns helps build concentration and memory, it helps develop motor skills, and is a great physical activity. But most of all it was a lot of fun!

Seeing science differently

We are thrilled to share that student Nia Feakes had an article published in the local press in March. In the article Nia shares her interest of the natural sciences and talks about her involvement in the School Fossil Box Project run by the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust.

The Hereford Times offers RNC students the opportunity to contribute to their 'Talking Point' column, typically featuring about four articles per year. This collaboration is invaluable for our students, allowing them to share their voices and experiences with a wider audience. It's a great way for them to develop their writing skills and learn to adhere to word counts and strict deadlines, giving them transferable skills that will be incredibly beneficial for their future, whether applying for university or seeking employment.

No wrong moves

Improv dance is the art of creating movement in the moment without a pre-planned routine. This made it the perfect activity for our students Alice, Amy, Christina, Davide, Emily, Hazal, and Jacob. 

Instead of following choreography, which can be difficult, the students were guided by dance teacher Helena to listen to their bodies and the music to decide what happens next. It's a sophisticated skill that focuses on listening and reacting. The students had to focus on the "now" rather than thinking of their next step. 

For our students, there are even more benefits. Improv helps with spatial awareness and balance, and the best part is, there are no wrong moves. A big thanks to teacher Helena for putting on this workshop, and to our staff member Denise and volunteer Matilda for supporting the activity.

Humna hosts successful Public Health Information Day

Humna Hussain, a fourth-year student at the College, successfully delivered a Public Health Information Day in February as part of her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Building on her completed Level 3 qualifications in Health & Social Care and Sociology, Humna balanced work on this project with her Level 3 studies in Biology and Braille. 

The idea for the event grew from Humna’s academic interests and varied work experience undertaken during her time at RNC, which includes placements with a dietician, a wedding event planner, and a marketing role with Hoople. 

Applying the skills she has developed, Humna took the lead on researching local health groups, managing logistics, and promoting the event to the College and thePoint4 community. The event brought together a range of local organisations, each offering unique insights and interactive experiences.

Easter creativity

Amy, Isabelle, and Jacob had a great time in Stephens Hall creating Easter cards in March. This hands-on activity was a fantastic way for them to explore shapes and dimensions and to build their spatial understanding through art. A big thank you to Residential Officer Rebecca for organising the session. The students now have some wonderful cards to share with friends and family.

Students lead visual impairment (V.I.) awareness event

Level 1 Vocational students planned, organised, and delivered a V.I. Awareness and Wellbeing event for Year 4 St Francis Xavier's RC Primary School pupils as part of an in-house work experience project in March. 

The children experienced a range of hands-on activities, including learning to write their names in Braille, creating crafts, and taking part in adapted games. They also had opportunities to complete tasks while blindfolded, helping to develop their understanding of accessibility and inclusion. 

Each child took home their creations, including fidget keyrings, loom band designs, and their name in Braille on a lanyard. 

Feedback from pupils and staff was extremely positive, with many commenting on how much they enjoyed the experience and asking for more. A particular highlight - Logan's book-folded hedgehogs - proved incredibly popular. Pupils loved being taught how to make them by Logan and Ollie and proudly took their own creations home, adding to the ever-expanding RNC hedgehog family far beyond the College.

Elliot leads successful safety event with West Mercia Police and Longtown Mountain Rescue

RNC student, Elliot Fergus-Fuller, organised a highly successful and informative event in February as part of his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Elliot co-ordinated visits from both West Mercia Police and Longtown Mountain Rescue, bringing together expert guidance, practical demonstrations, and valuable safety resources for the College community.

Massage students' Parisian adventure really hits the spot!

Massage and Complementary Therapies students enjoyed a busy but rewarding four day professional and cultural exchange with the Association Paul Guinot in France. 

Based in Villejuif, near Paris, the Association is dedicated to supporting the social and professional inclusion of people who are blind or visually impaired. Its vocational training centre, ESRP Paul et Liliane Guinot, specialises in massage and physiotherapy training and is part of the Faculty of Medicine at Université Paris-Saclay. 

It wasn't all work, though! The group took over Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower, trying out French cuisine, and taking a tactile tour of the Musée Bourdelle. 

They sat down with a local councillor to talk about all things accessibility before wrapping up the week by sharing in the cooking of a farewell meal with their new French friends.

Art beyond sight

What does a Picasso painting feel like? How does a Van Gogh painting sound? For his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) project, RNC student Davide created an immersive exhibition that reimagined art for the senses.

By using 3D printing, swell paper, and curated soundtracks, Davide invited visitors to experience famous works like Starry Night and Guernica through touch and sound.

Keeping the Strictly spark alive

Dance fever officially hit RNC in January! Inspired by the Strictly Come Dancing success of former student Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell, our students have been hard at work mastering the Waltz and Cha Cha Cha. 

Through a fantastic partnership with Step Change Studios and Translucent Dance Studio, professional ballroom training is now a reality at the College. The group reached a major milestone during their late-January lesson when they received their very first pairs of professional dance shoes, generously provided by International Dance Shoes. 

The students spent the remainder of the session perfecting their footwork and balance as they prepared for their first formal dance exam. A huge thank you to Matt from Translucent, as well as our dedicated staff and volunteers, for making this possible.

***NEWS UPDATE***

A huge well done to our ballroom dancers who received their exam results in March. We are pleased to announce that every student achieved a 'Highly Commended' grade in their Cha Cha examination. It is great to see their hard work pay off. They are now working towards a performance at the end of June.

Hester and Pickle's Paralympic debut

We were incredibly proud to support our student Hester Poole, who made her Paralympic debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Competing in the Para Alpine visually impaired class alongside her guide, Ali Hall, Hester took on the challenging Slalom and Giant Slalom events in Italy. 

While her competition didn't quite go to plan, at just 18 years old, she has an incredibly bright future and many more Paralympic opportunities ahead of her.

It has been a whirlwind year for Hester. In addition to representing ParalympicsGB, she's also received a conditional offer to study English Literature at the University of Cambridge. We can't wait to see what this talented athlete and scholar, along with her sidekick Pickle, achieves next.

Rico on the podium twice in Germany

Over the February half term, Rico travelled to Germany to compete in the German Open Judo Competition. Competing as a black belt for the very first time, he put in an outstanding performance and came home with both a silver and a bronze medal.

Congratulations, Rico!

Blind footballers continue strong European campaign in Germany

RNC Hereford secured two victories in Round 2 of the European Blind Football League in February. The results have propelled the defending champions to the top of the League with 10 points from their first four matches.

RNC's' first game saw a competitive match against tournament hosts Borussia Dortmund, but RNC kept their composure to clinch a 3-1 victory. Efe Shimwell led the attack with two well-taken goals, while Olly Johnson added the third.

The second fixture was against League newcomers, the Polish national blind football team. RNC dominated the game throughout, securing a 3-0 win against the young Polish side. Goals came from Olly Johnson and Efe Shimwell, and a milestone first European goal for Toby Williams.

Robin back in the saddle for the 'Hereford 50'!

Following the success of the 2019 'Pedal to Hereford' challenge, Robin Stephens is gearing up once again to support RNC. The previous 160-mile trek from Southampton to Hereford was completed in memory of Robin’s father, Gordon Stephens MBE, a former RNC student and the namesake of Stephens Hall. That journey raised a phenomenal £3,800 for the College, and now Robin is looking to add to that legacy.

This year’s event, dubbed the 'Hereford 50', features a 50-mile sponsored circular route that begins and ends at the RNC campus in Hereford. Robin has already recruited a group of friends and family to join him, but he is looking for more cyclists to hit the road for this great cause.

If you are looking for a rewarding physical challenge and want to help raise funds for the College, Robin is inviting more participants to join the group. Interested riders can contact RNC's Fundraising Department to sign up via fund@rnc.ac.uk

The 'Hereford 50' will take place on Sunday 24 May 2026.

Saying "Merci" to the Freemasons

Big thanks to the Herefordshire Freemasons for helping fund our students' trip to Lyon, France.

We were delighted to welcome Tim Bridgland-Taylor (Provincial Grand Charity Steward) to campus to meet the students and wish them a proper Bon Voyage before they headed off on their travels. 

Students were keen to practise their French on Tim and also to tell him what they were most looking forward to, which included: 

- travelling for the first time without their parents. 

- finding out what life is like at a French college for the visually impaired. 

- playing Goalball against French teams from Paris and Lyon. 

- exploring Lyon. 

And... of course... trying the food!

From farm shop to Royal Mile: Tammy's 100-mile madcap challenge  

Between 4-6 July, 45-year-old Tammy and her friend Ann Lake are taking on the Rat Race 100: Castle to Castle - a 100-mile run or walk ultramarathon over 48 hours, starting at Bamburgh Castle and ending at Edinburgh Castle. 

This is the next chapter in an incredibly personal journey for Tammy. After losing an astounding 5.5 stone, she’s found a new passion for health and fitness. Becoming a member of thePoint4 (the College-owned gym), was originally about physical and mental wellbeing, but as she approaches 50, she’s decided to see exactly what she’s capable of. 

Training at thePoint4 has also given Tammy a glimpse into the extraordinary work of the College. Seeing the students’ determination has inspired her to turn her "madcap" ultramarathon into a fundraising effort for RNC. 

‘I’m absolutely terrified,’ Tammy admits. ‘The route is 60 miles of off-road trails and 40 miles on the road. The worst part? The final mile is a straight incline up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. But after touring the College and meeting the brilliant students, I’m spurred on. In those dark times when I’m at breaking point, I’ll be thinking of them.’