Hi Alison
The Bristol VI Group spent several months visiting locations near the City
centre as agreed with RNIB reps and found 4 buildings that could have been
suitable, though not ideal. As part of the deal to sell the old Resource Centre
RNIB had given assurances that they would pay the rent of a suitable building
within the City centre for easy access. The few Day Centres left in Bristol are
all scattered on the outskirts of the City , most with limited public transport
connections.
Guide Dogs have taken over the old Resource Centre, which is a 2 storey
building to be used solely as a training venue. So it seems that the 2 main
charities who claim to have the interests of visually impaired people at heart
cannot now agree to co-operate in this matter. Yet when RNIB owned the
building, who were one of their tenants? Yes, GDBA.
It seems that having the higher public profile is more important than working
together to assist VI people in the community.
Jim Williams.
www.JamesLWilliams.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: CJ&AA MAY
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2019 1:22 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Fw: Bad news about the relocation of RNIB in Bristol
RNIB used to be one of the wealthiest charities and yet it really does seem
to be struggling now. I can understand why sight impaired people feel let down
in Bristol. If money is a real issue, why couldn’t RNIB liaise with one of
Bristol’s day centres to rent a room or set aside a particular day when sight
impaired people would be particularly welcome to come for a coffee, talks etc.?
Alison
.
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Jim
Williams
Sent: 21 January 2019 12:53
To: BCAB Discussion List <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Fw: Bad news about the relocation of RNIB in Bristol
Hi,
I sent this to the Moderator last Friday but got no response. After several
months of stalling the RNIB have dropped the VI community in Bristol in the
brown stuff. I accept that the vast majority of BCAB members will not be able
to attend this meeting but I have been informed that Tom Walker of In Touch
will be attending.
Briefly, the RNIB brought the Resource Centre in Bristol for £1 when the old
Bristol Royal Society for the Blind went under in 1999. Last year the Centre
was sold to GDBA for £677,000 with a promise they would find an alternative
site for VI people in Bristol to meet. Read on.
Jim Williams.
www.JamesLWilliams.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: Contact.us@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Paul Sullivan
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 5:13 PM
Subject: Bad news about the relocation of RNIB in Bristol
Dear Friends,
I am sorry to have to tell you that RNIB will not be moving into a central
Bristol location with Vision West of England as hoped. We learned yesterday
that their property budget, which would have paid for the move, is already
oversubscribed and RNIB has now decided that they will no longer rent property
on a long lease.
It is possible that RNIB will find some cheap office space on the outskirts
of Bristol to rent on a short term basis, but they will not be providing the
alternative community facilities that they promised us when the sale was
announced, and which they have continued to promise ever since.
The Bristol Location Partnership group is scheduled to meet at Stillhouse
Lane next Tuesday afternoon (22 January). We need as many visually impaired
people as possible, plus their friends and supporters, to come along and
express their anger about the situation. We will be gathering at 10 Stillhouse
Lane from 1pm.
Make your voice heard. Come along and have your say. This may be your only
chance.
Please let me know if you are coming, so that we can send you further
information and discuss any assistance you may need.
Best wishes,
Paul Sullivan
Secretary, Bristol and District VI Voice
Email: contact.us@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.bvivoice.org
