The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC)

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is situated just a mile away from Hereford city centre and has been leading the way in specialist education for people who are blind or partially sighted for over 140 years. With a focus on both academic and vocational training, the College has achieved a number of firsts. In 2008, RNC opened the world’s first Football Academy for blind and partially sighted players. In 2014, RNC joined together with computer solutions giant Cisco to launch the UK’s first Networking Academy for people with visual impairments. And in 2014, RNC officially launched the country’s first VI Sports Academy.

Facilities

As the UK’s leading residential college for people with visual impairment, the College campus is spread across 18 acres incorporating a purpose-built teaching campus and student village.

The teaching campus includes:

  • Academic teaching areas
  • Art and Ceramics studio
  • Performance studio
  • Radio station
  • Recording studio
  • Specialist sports and fitness teaching area,
  • Student Hub
  • The Chapel Arts Centre

The student village includes

  • Halls of Residence each containing en-suite single bedrooms with shared kitchen and living areas
  • Guide Dog facilities, including washing area and spending pens
  • Healthcare Centre
  • Laundry facilities
  • Spa facilities
  • thePoint4 (a Paralympic leisure centre including two gyms, indoor and outdoor pitches)
  • Student Bar
  • Student Bistro

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in one of the Halls of Residence within the Student Village. Designed as flats with shared facilities, all bedrooms are single occupancy with private en-suite facilities.

You will be assigned a room on arrival at RNC and volunteers will be available to guide you to your accommodation and help orientate you around the campus.

You will share a living room and kitchen facilities with a group of other students, helping you to form small friendship groups as well as the larger ones that form naturally through taking part in workshops, activities and being part of the ICC community. One of the great things about coming to ICC is the opportunity it provides for making new friends, developing your social confidence and having new experiences that support your personal development outside the classroom.

Dining

Breakfast – a bagged breakfast of croissant, fresh fruit and fruit juice will be served each morning in the Student Bistro from 7.30am until 8.30am.

Lunch – with the exception of the Excursion day, a bagged lunch will be served in the Student Bistro from 12.15pm until 1.45pm.

Dinner – with the exception of the Excursion Day and Farewell Dinner, an evening meal will be served in the Student Bistro from 5.15pm until 6.45pm.

Farewell Dinner – a celebration buffet on Tuesday 30th July will be served on the Terrace in Gardner Hall at 6pm.

Laundry Facilities

There are free washing machines available within accommodation blocks for those needing to wash clothes. Ask a member of the VICTA Team or volunteers for instructions on how to use.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places and work places in the UK. This law applies to RNC. You are not allowed to smoke while inside any building on campus including bedrooms. There are designated smoking areas outside on the campus grounds.

For those who do smoke, please be aware that you must be over 18 to buy cigarettes in the UK.

Alcohol

RNC does not permit alcohol to be stored or drunk in bedrooms. There is a bar on campus that sells soft drinks, beer, wines and spirits.

But remember, it is illegal for people under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, shop or elsewhere in the UK. And in most cases, it is against the law for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to drink in a pub or a public place.

Young people aged 16 or 17 can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal if it is bought by an adult and they are accompanied by an adult.

Water

Water in the UK is safe to drink or to use for food preparation and for washing and showering.

Campus Rules

  • Everyone will have their own room key, so please look after it
  • Bar area has an outside balcony but due to the neighbouring housings we need to be sat inside at 10pm
  • No smoking except for designated smoking shelters

Please Note
National Coordinators are responsible for the conduct and welfare of their delegates throughout the entire camp.

Find out more about the Royal National College for the Blind on their website: rnc.ac.uk