UCU Left - RNIB Redhill - Stop the Closure

The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.

Campaign to Stop the Closure of RNIB Redhill

Fight to save the college

UCU members demonstrating against the Redhill RNIB closure

On Wednesday 14 February a picket of RNIB Headquarters in London took place from midday to 3pm to protest against the proposed closure of RNIB Redhill College. The UCU branch at Redhill along with UNISON members have been organising with petitions, a public meeting and leafleting. There is huge public support for our fight to save this specialist college. Tony Benn, as well as all the main unions, is supporting the campaign. Now they need your support!

RNIB Redhill College in its 50th year, is due to close its Further Education and Adult Work Based Learning provision in July 2007. The closure is imminent, despite the RNIB promising staff only a year ago, that there was 15 Million pounds available and that the RNIB were committed to supporting the college for another ten years

The news came as a shock to staff and learners alike, after the College failed its Ofsted inspection for lacking a strategic plan for the development of residential provision criticized in the previous Ofsted report in 2002. The residential provision was deemed not to be SENDA compliant and would not meet CSCI standards, without considerable funding from the RNIB. However, the standard of education and provision was otherwise praised in the report, and has since been praised in the follow up Ofsted monitoring visit.

Current and future learners will suffer as a result of the closure. In future, any Blind or Visually Impaired adult requiring work based training will have to go as far a field as Loughborough as there is no other, like for like provision in this area. 34 LSC learners find themselves in the position of having to look for and find places for September 2007. Many are finding to their cost, that there are no courses available with spaces for September 2007. They are forced into to attending numerous stressful assessments and open days and their current courses are being disrupted as a result. There were many first year learners that found out within weeks of starting their three year courses that the college was due to close at the end of their first year, causing stress right from the start.

Support for the campaign to Stop the Closure of RNIB Redhill College has been overwhelming. Staff and learners alike have being involved in petitions, with in excess of 1200 signatures being collected. UCU and Unison members held a well attended public meeting in December 2006, where Eamonn Fetton, Director of Direct services RNIB promised to work with the unions to lobby the government for more money. Roger Kline also invited the RNIB to suspend plans to close until there had been a full review, including consultation with Staff and UCU.

As Roger said to the local Surrey press: “Dedicated staff are now fearful of their immediate futures, and answers are still needed. RNIB has more explaining to do: to students, parents, staff, and RNIB funders.”

Sadly, this has not been the case to date and the closure is still going ahead. There has also been extensive coverage in both local and National media including Radio 4’s ‘In Touch’ programme. The campaign also has the support of Political Veteran Tony Benn. Local MP Crispin Blunt is also looking into how his affected constituents may be compensated for the closure where it has had a significant effect.

However, to date, staff and learners alike face uncertainty about their futures.

Please support the campaign by signing this petition, and by writing letters against the closure to Eamon Fetton, Director of Direct Services, RNIB HQ, Judd Street, LONDON.

Sign the Petition against the closures at RNIB Redhill

Support from RNIB London Marathon Runner (24/04/2007)

'Students left stranded' - Guardian Report (30/01/2007)

Press Report following Public Meeting (14/12/2006)

Public Meeting against the closures at RNIB Redhill

Tony Benn offers support to RNIB Campaigners (28/11/2006)