THE ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND
Residential Specialist College ,promoting the independence and potential of people who are blind or partially sighted ages 16 and over.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the group ended the year with total net assets of £11.03 million, including unrestricted funds of £10.07 million. However, the trustees report that free reserves of £471,000 remain below the desired policy target of approximately £1.2 million. The financial position is supported by sufficient working capital and full support from bankers and pension trustees, despite a significant deficit on the defined benefit pension scheme.
What the accounts disclose
“Income from student services 7,638”
“The Governors consider that, given the nature of RNC's operations, this should be equivalent to two months' expenditure, approximately £1,200,000”
“RNC has a bank loan facility with a final repayment date of 31st January 2030, and a significant deficit on its defined benefit pension scheme, but has worked through a detailed recovery plan to address this and has the full support of its bankers, pension fund trustees and other funders. RNC has a three year financial forecast and a three year cash flow forecast which show that the Group has sufficient headroom to continue to trade within its current bank loan and overdraft facilities. The Governors therefore believe that it is appropriate to prepare these financial statements on the basis that RNC is a going concern.” — page 8
“During the year RNC recharged expenses of £317,942 (2024: £251,360) to R N C Enterprises Limited and paid £2,876 (2024: £9,931) for products and services.” — page 37
“During the year, RNC received income of £51,000 from Blindcare (2024: £103,000).”
“During the year RNC recharged expenses of £317,942 (2024: £251,360) to R N C Enterprises Limited and paid £2,876 (2024: £9,931) for products and services.” — page 37
“During the year, RNC received income of £51,000 from Blindcare (2024: £103,000).”
“Deficit in plan (2,865)”
“The wholly owned trading subsidiary, R N C Enterprises Limited, is incorporated in the United Kingdom” — page 28
In the news
- Cycling event raises over £7k for Royal National College for the Blind
- Hereford's Royal National College for the Blind students 'inspired' by former pupil Chris' Strictly journey
- Refurbished dog wash opens at The Royal National College for the Blind
- Royal National College for the Blind threatened by financial crisis
- Royal National College for the Blind sells off part of campus in funding crisis
- Royal National College for the Blind in BBC documentary
- More than £15,000 raised for Royal National College for the Blind in 24-hour spinathon
- Hereford Art College moves to take over Royal National College for the Blind building
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Trustees
- Andrew David Powell
- Christopher James Finch
- Dr Ruth Sharon Turnbull
- Dr Tirion Claire Hughes
- Helen Miles
- James Laurence Williams
- Joshua Jack Feehan
- KERRY ANN DIAMOND
- LUCY PROCTOR
- Peter Thomas Gebbie
- Sonya Louise Bryson
- Suzanne Penny
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £8.9m | £8.1m |
| 31/07/2024 | £7.6m | £7.3m |
| 31/07/2023 | £7.6m | £7.0m |
| 31/07/2022 | £7.8m | £6.2m |
| 31/07/2021 | £5.6m | £5.5m |
Common questions
Is THE ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the group ended the year with total net assets of £11.03 million, including unrestricted funds of £10.07 million. However, the trustees report that free reserves of £471,000 remain below the desired policy target of approximately £1.2 million. The financial position is supported by sufficient working capital and full support from bankers and pension trustees, despite a significant deficit on the defined benefit pension scheme. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds THE ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND as a grant recipient include THE STEVEN BLOCH IMAGE OF DISABILITY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BATCHWORTH TRUST, THE GEOFF & FIONA SQUIRE FOUNDATION, THE WILL CHARITABLE TRUST, THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport England | 07/10/2022 | £0 | Places and Spaces (Crowdfunding) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/04/2021 | £10k | Sports Hall Cleaning Efficiency Project |
| UK government | 30/10/2020 | £40k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| Sport England | 30/10/2019 | £10k | Running and Cycling Club for Visually Impaired |
| Sport England | 06/02/2014 | £9k | Get Equipped - RNC Goalball Development |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| VINCHEL FOUNDATION | 1 | £323k |
| THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £10k |
| THE CLARE MILNE TRUST | 1 | £10k |
| THE GORDON GRAY TRUST | 1 | £6k |
| THE ULVERSCROFT FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
| THE INMAN CHARITY | 1 | £5k |
| THE WO STREET CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
| THE SAINTBURY TRUST | 1 | £3k |
Charities like this
- CATHOLIC BLIND INSTITUTE
- NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER
- Royal Deaf Education Trust
- THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY
- THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND
- Sight Support West of England
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND | £8.9m | — | — | unclear | — | noted |
| CATHOLIC BLIND INSTITUTE | £3.3m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER | £6.7m | £110,001 - £120,000 | — | below | — | no doubt |
| Royal Deaf Education Trust | £9.0m | — | 3 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY | £410k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND | £1.0m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |