Save the Date - Queen Alexander College Open Day
Our associated charity, Queen Alexandra Collage (QAC) are holding a Community Services Open Day and everyone is invited!
When: Saturday 3rd May 2025
Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Where: Umberslade Campus, Umberslade Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 7SQ
Enjoy Archery, BBQ, Hair and Make-up, Dancing & Local Business Stalls!
Queen Alexandra College (QAC) is our associated charity — a national specialist day and residential college supporting individuals with a wide range of abilities and needs.
Free Training for Professionals during May 2025
Our associated charity, Focus Birmingham are offering two FREE training sessions at their premises in Harborne, Birmingham:
Tuesday 6th May 2025: Total Communication Training at 10:30am - 12:30pm
This training will help you:
- Enhance your knowledge of communication and its different forms.
- Develop your skills in interacting with individuals with complex needs and communication challenges.
- Improve awareness of assistive tools and technology for effective communication.
- Learn to apply total communication methods in your everyday practice.
Thursday 8th May 2025 : Sight Loss Awarness Training at 1:30pm-4:30pm 
This training will help you:
- Deepen your understanding of sight loss and common eye conditions.
- Learn how to support individuals, considering both emotional and physical impacts.
- Improve communication with the visually impaired community and understand the importance of accessibility.
- Gain confidence in guiding and assisting someone with sight loss.
BUGS Ukulele Strummers in Halesowen Hit the Right Note with £1,000 Donation to BRIB
The Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind are incredibly grateful to the BUGS Ukulele Strummers for their generous donation of £1,000.
Last week, our Chair, Matt Bullock, had the pleasure of visiting the group in Halesowen to collect the cheque in person. It was a heart-warming evening spent getting to know the members, hearing about their musical journey, and sharing how their donation will make a real difference to the lives of people we support who are visually impaired and/or have care and support needs.
The BUGS Ukulele Strummers are a lively and passionate community group who regularly perform across the region to raise money for local causes. Matt said, “Their enthusiasm, commitment to making a difference, and love of music was truly inspiring”.
This donation will help us continue our work supporting people living with sight loss and other disabilities providing vital services, increasing independence, and reducing isolation.
To the BUGS Ukulele Strummers: thank you for your kindness, your music, and your support. You’ve struck a chord with all of us here at The Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind!
Health and Safety Executive Research into high rise buildings
PA Consulting are conducting research on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
who are working on the development of new services that will allow HSE to effectively
regulate the safety of high-rise residential buildings.
They want to ensure that the new services are inclusive and accessible to all, and therefore
are seeking to speak to current or past residents of high-rise buildings (7 storeys or more)
and built environment industry professionals (architects, developers, contractors) who have
visual impairments to better understand their needs and concerns, to ensure we design the
new services with these needs in mind.
Anyone wishing to be involved and who would be willing to spend 45 – 60 minutes in a
telephone discussion to help them to understand the factors they need to consider should
contact Cathrine at PA Consulting:
cathrine.schioler@paconsulting.com
07784345827
Please note this is not activity promoted or endorsed in any way by BRIB, but is shared here to
help ensure there is opportunity for those who wish to have input on this important issue.
QAC hosts another Sight Village Online Information Event
Following the success of the initial LIVE Sight Village Online Information Event which took place in January, QAC are pleased to announce that another virtual event will be taking place live on Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd April.
Over the three days, the event will have a focus on showcasing some of the latest technologies, and offer up to date information from a selection of regular Sight Village exhibitors. There will also be new information regarding the Sight Village person to person events that are taking place over the summer, with an outlined plan of action to let you know what actions are being taken to ensure the events are COVID secure.
To access the event, follow the relevant links below::
Day 1, Tuesday 20th April: tune in here
Day 2, Wednesday 21st April: tune in here
Day 3, Thursday 22nd April: tune in here