The RSBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Plant as its new Chair of Trustees with effect from 1 January 2023. The appointment follows the retirement of Ian Stephenson at the end of last year.
Commenting, Ian Stephenson said, “I am delighted that Patrick has taken on the role of Chair. It is a position which I was honoured to hold during a period of significant change in the charity. RSBC is now a national charity serving blind and partially sighted children and their families across England and Wales. I am immensely proud of all the staff and volunteers who have taken the charity to this point. I know that they will continue to work hard to ensure that many more children and young people can benefit from the charity’s support.”
Patrick Plant has served as an RSBC trustee for 8 years and took up the role of Vice-Chair in 2022. He has brought his professional legal expertise and his charitable experience to support the charity over that time and is passionate about blind and partially sighted children and young people securing the best possible life outcomes.
“I am immensely proud to be taking up the reins as Chair of the RSBC and thank my predecessor, Ian Stephenson, for his stewardship.
I am excited to be taking over at a time when we have established our Life without Limits Centre in the heart of the City of London providing blind and partially sighted children, young people and their families with new opportunities to engage with us, both in person and via the technology in the Centre. Through our Families First service we are also able to support families where they live and our specialist FE College, Dorton College, is growing steadily from its base in Bromley.
There remains much to do but I am looking forward to working with my fellow trustees, and Sue Sharp, the Society’s CEO and her team to continue the Society’s journey to better support blind and partially sighted children and young people and their families.”