About Us
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the worst thing about being blind is being unable to see. We work with blind young people every day and we know there is an untold, darker story around childhood sight loss. It is not the lack of full sight that is the problem but the lack of confidence, resilience, friends and hope for the future rather than the sight loss itself that has the most damaging effect on these young people, as shown by the statistics below:
> Two out of five blind children have no neighbourhood friends to play with
> One in four children under 12 is depressed
> 90% of blind young people will never work for more than six months of their life
> Nearly seven out of ten blind and partially sighted people are on the poverty line.
For nearly 200 years the Royal London Society for Blind People has been helping blind and partially sighted young people in London and the South East, not only to cope with their sight loss but, even more importantly, to build their resilience, challenging them to have the right mindset to accept their condition and to spark their ambition so they can live the life they want for themselves.
Wherever possible, we take our services into the heart of the communities where blind young people live. This enables the young people to readily access the services and importantly feel like they are part of their local community.
We provide a ‘Learning toolbox’ which is an expert blend of sports, education, and creative and developmental services which builds their confidence, encourage independence and help nurture friendships so that they can play a real and active part in their local community and live their life beyond their blindness.
Press releases
Hundreds of runners brave heavy rain to take part in UK's first...
2 November 2014 Hundreds of runners take part in UK's first Blindfold Run at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 140 pairs of runners braved heavy... read more
03.11.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Stephanie Nala delights blind young Londoners at City Hall event with...
Stephanie, who has been a contestant on this year's X-Factor, last Saturday performed to a 100-strong crowd to close the Royal London Society for... read more
26.10.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
London Comedians join in the London without Limits festival fun in...
Comedians Arthur Smith and Chris McCausland will join David Page and Joey Morgan for a very special edition of Comedy in the Dark on October 20th.... read more
15.10.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
“Paris here I come!” Blind13 year-old girl from West London set to jet...
Earlier in the year blind and partially sighted 11-18 year olds living in West London were given the chance to win an exclusive trip to Paris by... read more
29.09.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
“Give us the chance to shine.” New resource to help more blind young...
The Royal London Society for Blind People, a leading charity for blind and partially sighted young people has launched a dual purpose resource... read more
27.06.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Are you brave enough to run 10k blindfolded?
RLSB, London’s leading charity for blind young people, launched the UK’s first Blindfold Run challenge today at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park... read more
12.06.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
‘Writing my way to Paris’ – a competition for blind and partially...
Blind and partially sighted 11-18 year olds living in areas surrounding Heathrow airport can win an exclusive trip to Paris by entering a creative... read more
23.05.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
“We’re taking control of our future.” Ground breaking manifesto for...
London based youth forum for blind young people unveils the country’s first ever manifesto, highlighting the realities blind young people face... read more
04.03.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Royal London Society for Blind People and Royal Blind Society announce...
Following formal discussions The Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB) and the Royal Blind Society (RBSoc) have agreed to form an... read more
04.03.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Samantha Cameron hosts No.10 reception for blind young Londoners
Samantha Cameron hosted a reception at No.10 Downing Street in aid of blind young Londoners who are struggling to overcome poverty,... read more
06.02.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Paratriathlete World Champion backs charity for blind young people
The Royal London Society for Blind People welcomes world no.1 Paratriathlete and Rio hopeful Melisssa Reid as ambassador RLSB is proud to... read more
04.02.2014 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
London celebrities back special event for blind young Londoners
Olly Murs, Eliza Doolittle, Tim Campbell and Britain’s Got Talent band The Luminites added their support to the Capitals’ first ever youth event... read more
02.12.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
‘Give us an app for a seamless journey say blind young people to...
Vision impaired (VI) young people working with RLSB, a leading charity that supports blind young people in London and the South East, are calling... read more
28.11.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Alan Titchmarsh creates sensory oasis garden for blind young brother and...
**Invitation for interviews** Alan Titchmarsh transforms garden of blind young brother and sister into sensory oasis on ITV’s Love your Garden.... read more
08.08.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Blind Chief Exec of London charity for blind children climbs O2 to kick...
Dr Tom Pey, Chief Executive of the Royal London Society for Blind People last night scaled the roof of the O2 to fundraise for specialist support... read more
23.07.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
RLSB response to 'Big leap' towards curing blindness in stem cell study...
Britain has always had proud record as a world leader in research into preservation of sight. The news today is another major step long that... read more
22.07.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Blind Chief Exec of London charity for blind children set to climb the...
Dr Tom Pey, Chief Executive of the Royal London Society for Blind People is set to scale the roof of the O2 in a bid to raise money for specialist... read more
22.07.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
England Cricket Captain Alastair Cook makes surprise visit to blind...
The England Cricket Captain, Alastair Cook, took time out on Monday to play cricket with twenty blind young Londoners from the Royal London Society... read more
13.06.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Outstanding early years care for vision impaired toddlers comes to...
Parents with young children are warmly welcomed to join the RLSB at its new Parents & Toddlers group at the Chandos East Centre in Stratford on... read more
31.05.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
New street works system that will boost confidence in independent travel...
“Sight Line” a new system of signalling street works to vision impaired people, designed by the Royal College of Art and RLSB (The Royal London... read more
17.05.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Youth sight loss charity CEO slams controversial Bedroom Tax
And calls on London mayor to establish business-backed relief fund to stop vulnerable young people being “sacrificed on the altar of financial... read more
09.04.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People
Children with vision impairment need more early years support if they...
The RLSB (the Royal London Society for Blind People) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have launched a report which... read more
20.02.2013 • By The Royal London Society for Blind People