MP Visits RNIB Sunshine House School

12.00.00am GMT Thu 4th Mar 2004

MP visits the Royal National Institute of the Blind's (RNIB) Sunshine House School in Northwood

As part of her MP's voluntary secondment scheme placement, Annette Brooke MP visited the Royal National Institute of the Blind's (RNIB) Sunshine House School in Northwood this past week. The MP for Mid Dorset is participating on the scheme in order to learn more about voluntary sector organisations, campaigning and fundraising, and the vital services they provide.

Sunshine House school in North London caters to visually impaired children with supplementary disabilities and is attended by as many as fifty-six students, aged two to eleven.

Commenting on the efforts of the Sunshine House, Annette Brooke MP said:

"The Sunshine House, and the work it has done daily for over fifty years, plays an extremely important role within the current educational system, proving that both traditional and unconventional programmes are needed to truly education an entire population."

RNIB is the UK's leading charity dedicated to promoting the interests of over two million UK citizens with sight problems. Their original work helps anyone with a sight problem - not just with braille, Talking Book and computer training, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.

The charity provides a wide range of services to blind and partially sighted people, offering practical solutions, advice, and support services in order to improve the quality of life for people who have sight problems.

The voluntary secondment scheme for MPs aims to link parliamentarians with local or national charities in which they have a particular interest. MPs undertake 1-2 weeks of work experience at the charity over the course of a year to learn how charities work; about fundraising strategies, volunteers, advocacy work, policy development and activities to help blind people, both at local and national level.