College funds receive a boost courtesy of Arriva

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) College inRedhill, Surrey has received a £3,000 boost from transportoperator Arriva.

The RNIB College is an innovative specialist college of furthereducation, which offers blind and partially sighted people agedbetween 16 and 65 years, a wide range of educational and trainingservices. Arriva has donated £3,000 towards the purchase ofnew 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, aspart of the Group's commitment to the communities that weserve.

The College provides excellent training and educationfor young people and adults with sight difficulties, as well asthose with physical disabilities, and we hope that the newequipment will assist with their learning.

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

We are very grateful for Arriva's support. Theequipment that is essential for our learners here at RNIB RedhillCollege is very expensive. However, support like this helps us topurchase 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 itsservices for those who are blind and partially sighted. Workincludes disability awareness training for its bus drivers, settingup a model bus route in West Yorkshire and the production of bustimetables in an accessible format. Providing support to theCollege is part of the ongoing partnership.

The College provides pre-vocational and vocational courses,leading to nationally recognised qualifications. The curriculumincludes courses on Information technology and Businessadministration. They also run an Adult training programme andthrough training and support, the facilitation of employment andwork experience and the development of vocational skills andknowledge, the College aims for students to successfully gain fulltime employment.

The students that attend the college range from pre-universityentrants and trainees on employment training who have recentlyexperienced deterioration in sight, to those who have additionallearning disabilities.

ENDS

Notes to editors

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

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