The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has made more than 15% of its staff redundant as part of an “organisation-wide” restructure.
RNIB made 197 of its 1,248 employees redundant, it confirmed to Civil Society this week, with cuts understood to have been made across the charity.
The news comes shortly after the RNIB concluded a 45-day consultation with staff on proposals that had initially placed almost 300 at risk of redundancy.
Civil Society previously reported that workers union Unite had been “fully involved” with the consultation.
The proposals were made as part of the charity’s six-month process into reviewing its operations in a bid to save around £10m in annual costs.
Cuts made as part of new 10-year strategy
RNIB CEO Matt Stringer told Civil Society that the redundancies were made as part of a restructure which resulted from the launch of RNIB’s new strategy last summer.
The strategy included 10-year goals to deliver “large-scale social change to make the most impact for blind and partially sighted people”, Stringer said.
“To deliver our new strategy, we recognised that we needed to review our organisation design and ways of working, so that we’re in the strongest position to achieve our goals and build a strong RNIB for the future.
“We embarked upon an all-staff consultation process, which has now ended and we’re now moving to the next phase of our transformation.”
The charity will be making other changes following the restructure, including a streamlining of its helpline; an expansion of its on-demand learning resources, and the launch of a new peer-to-peer buddy system.
Stringer added: “We’re confident the charity is now stronger, fitter and more financially sustainable, so that we can drive the social change needed to deliver our strategy and make more impact for more blind and partially sighted people.”
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