Press releases

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) College in Redhill, Surrey has received a £3,000 boost from transport operator Arriva.

The RNIB College is an innovative specialist college of further education, which offers blind and partially sighted people aged between 16 and 65 years, a wide range of educational and training services. Arriva has donated £3,000 towards the purchase of new equipment to enable the students to access information, including computer magnification and screen reading equipment.

Managing director of Arriva Southern Counties, Bob Scowen, said:

We are delighted to be able to support the College, as part of the Group's commitment to the communities that we serve.

The College provides excellent training and education for young people and adults with sight difficulties, as well as those with physical disabilities, and we hope that the new equipment will assist with their learning.

Angela Farrin, vice principal at the RNIB Redhill College of further education said:

We are very grateful for Arriva's support. The equipment that is essential for our learners here at RNIB Redhill College is very expensive. However, support like this helps us to purchase vital resources for the learners.

Arriva has been working with the RNIB for nearly four years, looking at ways in which it can improve the accessibility of its services for those who are blind and partially sighted. Work includes disability awareness training for its bus drivers, setting up a model bus route in West Yorkshire and the production of bus timetables in an accessible format. Providing support to the College is part of the ongoing partnership.

The College provides pre-vocational and vocational courses, leading to nationally recognised qualifications. The curriculum includes courses on Information technology and Business administration. They also run an Adult training programme and through training and support, the facilitation of employment and work experience and the development of vocational skills and knowledge, the College aims for students to successfully gain full time employment.

The students that attend the college range from pre-university entrants and trainees on employment training who have recently experienced deterioration in sight, to those who have additional learning disabilities.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The following digital photograph is available via e-mail from Rebecca Miller.

Arriva's Bob Scowen presents Angela Farrin from RNIB's Redhill College with a cheque for £3,000, towards the purchase of new computer equipment.