Dear Customer,
We’re writing to provide an update regarding changes to the RNIB Personal Transcription Service, following the conclusion of our recent organisational-wide consultation.
As part of this consultation, we’ve carefully reviewed all service areas to identify where we need to do more, where we need to scale back and where we need to do things differently to help us focus on our aim of reaching many more people with sight loss through their eye care support journey.
Our aim continues to be ensuring RNIB is there for as many of the 2 million blind and partially sighted people in the UK as possible – a number that is expected to double by 2050 – whilst maintaining financial sustainability to remain available for as long as we’re needed. Additionally, there’s vital work ahead to create the societal changes necessary for lasting, positive improvements for blind and partially sighted people. These changes will enhance the delivery of support, ensuring continuity of care throughout individuals’ lives and addressing existing limitations in our reach.
Following a detailed consultation process and in response to suggestions from our teams, we’ve decided to continue offering Large Print on Demand, which represents over 50 per cent of our Personal Transcription work and is an expanding area of the service. This will now be managed differently, ensuring it remains sustainable and capable of meeting the growing demand.
The remaining aspects of the Personal Transcription Service will transition to a new provider, whose core business model specialises in transcription services. This change will involve a charged-for model, with RNIB subsidising part of the cost for a limited time to ease the transition for our customers. We appreciate how unsettling changes like these can be, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and a positive customer experience.
The new provider is A2i Transcription Services, and has been chosen after careful consideration, due to their excellent reputation. You can contact A2i in the following ways:
Telephone: 01179 440044
Email: [email protected] Website: a2i.co.uk
Address: A2i Transcription Services, Unit 4 Montpelier Central, Station Road, Bristol BS6 5EE
You will need to identify yourself as a RNIB Personal Transcription Service user by quoting the code RNIBPT04/25.
We remain incredibly grateful to you, volunteers and RNIB staff for your unwavering support of the Personal Transcription Service over the years. Your commitment has been invaluable. As we move forward, RNIB is firmly focused on creating a greater, long-lasting impact for blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Our dedication to driving meaningful change and ensuring support for future generations remains at the heart of everything we do.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your understanding.
Helen Atwere
Director of Operations
RNIB