On Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 April 2025, a small European Blind Union delegation including Lars Bosselmann (Executive Director) and Valerie Bertrand-Vivancos (Membership Officer) visited the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) at their new headquarters on Pentonville Road in London. The two-day visit served as a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and strategic alignment between EBU and RNIB, one of the UK's most prominent organisations supporting blind and partially sighted people.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by David Aldwinckle, EBU Board Member and Director of Insight & Customer Voice at RNIB. David began by introducing the organisation and explaining the context behind RNIB’s recent restructuring. He noted that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, RNIB transitioned from its former large premises in Judd Street to a smaller but beautifully adapted building located beside Grimaldi Gardens. The former historic chapel converted as RNIB offices is located next to a small cemetery, famously containing the grave of the clown Grimaldi, a figure linked to the royal family of Monaco—a curious yet endearing detail shared with visitors.
Currently, RNIB remains the UK’s leading charity supporting individuals with sight loss, offering emotional and practical support to blind and partially sighted people and their families. Its services include Talking Books, RNIB Connect Radio, the RNIB Helpline, and RNIB Bookshare. The organisation also advocates for accessibility and inclusion, addressing systemic issues in areas such as public transport, education, health care, and digital access. With a workforce of around 1,000 people and a presence across the UK, RNIB has significantly shaped public policy and awareness around visual impairment since its founding in 1868.
During the morning session of the first day, the EBU delegation collaborated closely with David and his colleagues Hilary Ingleton, Head of Research and Insight, and Robin Kaye, Research and Insight Analyst. The focus was on reviewing and refining the initial draft of the 2025 EBU Members Survey. The discussion proved productive, with detailed input shared to ensure the final survey would reflect the evolving needs and realities of EBU’s diverse membership.
Later in the day, the delegation met with Michael Wordingham, Head of Policy. Michael, who leads a team of five policy officers—all of whom have lived experience of sight loss—outlined the department’s priorities and areas of advocacy. These priorities include inclusive travel, improved post-diagnosis support (in collaboration with local authorities), accessible employment through initiatives like Access to Work, and efforts to address inequalities in service provision that have been exacerbated since the pandemic.
Michael also discussed issues relating to the Equality Act 2010, RNIB’s "Visibly Better" agreement, accessible voting processes, the additional costs of disability, and financial inclusion. Further topics included the accessibility of health care information, digital inclusion, and the persistent age-related digital divide. He also raised concerns about legal loopholes that affect the accessibility of consumer products, highlighting shared concerns with the EBU.
The day concluded in a relaxed atmosphere, as the delegation joined RNIB staff for a couple of pints of Guinness Zero at the local pub—colloquially known as the “other office.” Enjoying the early spring sunshine, conversations with Daniel Fisher, Director of Strategy, and Liam Parkin, Head of Strategy, helped reinforce the strong working relationships established throughout the day.
On the second day, the EBU delegation was welcomed by Abi Fitzgibbon, Director of International Relations and also partly responsible for the RNIB Archives and Culture sections. Abi had arranged for three regional staff members to join the meeting: Ross Meegan (Assistant Campaign Officer), Lyndsay Cole (Local Campaigns Manager), and Gareth Davies (See Cymru Differently Project Lead| Arweinydd Prosiect Golwg Gwahanol ar Gymru BSc Behavioural Science), who works with blind and partially sighted communities in rural Wales. This cross-regional exchange offered valuable insight into how RNIB’s structure supports tailored, localised advocacy and services. It also allowed for meaningful discussion about the practical challenges and successes experienced across different parts of the UK.
Lars and Valérie from the EBU team then delivered a presentation outlining the history, structure, and current activities of EBU. They emphasised the importance of deeper engagement from RNIB in European initiatives, encouraging greater participation at grassroots levels. The presentation sparked a lively and extended Q&A session, which continued well into the lunch break, reflecting a high level of interest and shared commitment to collaboration.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of RNIB’s new headquarters. Abi highlighted the building’s exemplary accessibility features, designed to accommodate a wide range of disabilities—including visual impairments, reduced mobility, and neurodiversity. The headquarters is frequently visited by architects and accessibility experts as a model of good practice in inclusive design.
Overall, the EBU delegation's visit to RNIB deepened mutual understanding, identified key areas for future cooperation, and reaffirmed the shared mission of creating a more inclusive and accessible Europe for blind and partially sighted people.