RNIB Connect

Let’s look ahead to some festive theatre shows coming up in south Wales this month. Hywel Davies has been catching up with audio describer Michelle Perez.

What is myopia and why are more children experiencing it? 

Amelia speaks to eye care specialist, Professor Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, about the condition and how it can be spotted and treated.

Learn more about Myopia on the Myopia website - Short-sightedness (myopia) - NHS

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

Edinburgh's Lord Provost paid a visit to RNIB Scotland's refurbished office,
RNIB's Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to him to get his thoughts on the facilities, the game of showdown and Meeting an awards winning volunteer.

Image Shows RNIB Connect Radio Logo, RNIB In Bold Black Letters, Below A Solid Pink Line with Connect Radio Underneath

Inaccurate press reporting, social media backlashes against disabled people and the UK Chancellor’s Autumn Budget have all compounded concerns from the disabled community about public perception and the future of the Motability scheme.

RNIB Connect Radio’s David Hogg spoke to Allan Russell about the worries and the response from Motability.

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.
This week Matt talks about a meeting at Moorfields Eye Hospital, more audio description talks at the BBC and a look at the recent UK Autumn Budget.
If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk
You can call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999
Or ask your Smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.
...

With a look at some festive, audio described, shows, here’s Allan Russell with Anne Hornsby…

RNIB Scotland has launched a new project, designed to provide more advice, support, events and community connections for blind and partially sighted people in rural and isolated areas.

This month, David Hogg spoke to Sarah Richings who lives in Orkney

If you live in Scotland, are blind or partially sighted, and would like more info, go to www.rnib.org.uk/scotland

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black...

Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by some of the RNIB Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on.

This month’s topics include RNIB’s response to the UK Chancellor’s Autumn Budget and a look back at a recent Parliamentary event.

If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved , email campaigns@rnib.org.uk

You can visit rnib.org.uk/news 

or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999

Follow @RNIB_Campaigns on your socials or search for RNIB Campai...

How can tech help with you festive preparations?

Amelia spoke to Claire Maxwell from the RNIB Shop to learn about tools to help with cooking and catching up with loved ones.

Visit the RNIB Shop here - RNIB Shop

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

Celebrate ‘International Day of Persons With Disabilities’ with Bloomsbury Football Foundation as they prepare to host a very special day of football fun. Hywel Davies has been finding out more.

For more information and sign up details, visit the website -  Blind & VI Football Festival 2025 · Luma

It's the season for festivities, and also a good Christmas sale. In this podcast, Hubert catches up with the RNIB Shop to find out what items are available as part of the seasonal shop sale. 

The ‘Tech Talk’ team reflect on the recent BBC documentary ‘Chris McCausland: Seeing into the Future’. Asking what impact technology like artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles will have on blind and partially sighted people in the future and how RNIB can offer support in the present day.

For more information, visit the RNIB shop - RNIB Shop

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Matt talks about the charity’s Westminster event, taking part in a major piece of work around employment and there’s comment on the publication of the latest Covid-19 report.

If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk

You can call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask your Amaz...

Sight loss charity RNIB has been responding to the latest Covid-19 report, which highlights failings that negatively impacted blind and partially sighted people, by governments around the UK.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke with Sophie Dudgeon, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs for RNIB, about the main findings.

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

How can you share your experiences of sight loss in art? How can making help your wellbeing? What are some accessible methods?

We've gathered visually impaired artists and makers Alan Mcintyre, Julie Hale, Kellie Dingwall and Sian Healey to share their experiences and tips for getting creative.

Learn more about ways to get creative on the RNIB website - Art and crafts for blind and partially sighted people | RNIB | RNIB

RNIB Connect Radio’s Robert Kirkwood is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews.

They head over to the Birmingham Hippodrome as Vidar reviews the audio described production of Moulin Rouge.

About ‘Moulin Rouge.'

Enter a world of splendour, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical!

Baz...

How can technology, music, vibration and visuals make inclusive and multisensory play?

Amelia visited Soundplay projects in Glasgow for a tour of their experiences - Here is Co-Founder Bal Cooke showing her the 'Sub-Bass Soft Space'

Learn more about Soundplay on their website - Soundplay Projects - Meaningful creative expression and musical experimentation

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

How can technology, music, vibration and visuals make inclusive and multisensory play?

Amelia visited Soundplay projects in Glasgow for a tour of their experiences - Here is Co-Founder Bal Cooke showing her the 'Back To Back'

Learn more about Soundplay on their website - Soundplay Projects - Meaningful creative expression and musical experimentation

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

How can technology, music, vibration and visuals make inclusive and multisensory play?

Amelia visited Soundplay projects in Glasgow for a tour of their experiences - Here is Co-Founder Bal Cooke showing her their 'Sine Wave'

Learn more about Soundplay on their website - Soundplay Projects - Meaningful creative expression and musical experimentation

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

How can technology, music, vibration and visuals make inclusive and multisensory play?

Amelia visited Soundplay projects in Glasgow for a tour of their experiences - Here is Co-Founder Bal Cooke showing her the 'Ambient Arcade'.

Learn more about Soundplay on their website - Soundplay Projects - Meaningful creative expression and musical experimentation

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

Soundplay bring music, visuals, tactile materials and technology together in their inclusive experiences to encourage a sense of play. 

Amelia visited their offices to speak to co-creator Bal Cooke and get a tour.

Learn more about Soundplay on their website - Soundplay Projects - Meaningful creative expression and musical experimentation

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

MoorVision and Optolec hosted a Children and Young People's Vision Zone Exhibition in Plymouth last year. 

They won the 2025 Visionary Community Pathways Award sponsored by RNIB and Amelia spoke to MoorVision Executive Director, Laura Hughes, to learn more...

Learn more about MoorVision on their website - Visionary Award Success! | Moorvision

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font. 

The MySight York Community Connect project is working to reshape York into a sight loss friendly city. 

They won the Accelerating Impact Award at the Visionary Awards 2025, sponsored by Fight for Sight.

Amelia spoke to CEO Scott Jobson to learn about the project and award.

Learn more about MySight York on their website - MySight York

Devon In Sight's Children and Young People’s Counselling Service won the Customer Excellence Award sponsored by Guide Dogs at the 2025 Visionary Awards.

Amelia spoke to Grahame Flynne, Chief Executive Officer, and Louise Millington, Sight Loss Advisor, to hear about their work and the win.

Learn more about Devon In Sight on their website - Welcome to Devon in Sight - Devon in Sight or call 01392 876 666

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Ra...

At the end of the Parliamentary Reception, Hubert spoke to RNIB's CEO Matt Stringer to get his closing thoughts on the success of the event. 

Towards the end of the Parliamentary Reception, Hubert spoke to Maqsood from RNIB's Campaigns team to get his thoughts on how the event went. 

In this episode, Hubert chats to another volunteer who came along to provide his knowledge and experience to the visiting MPs. 

In this podcast, Hubert highlights an important aspect of the Parliamentary Reception event, this being the blind and partially sighted volunteers sharing their lived experience of sight loss and vision rehabilitation with the MPs that visited the stands. 

Hubert chats to Martin Rhodes MP after he has been to visit the few stands during RNIB's Parliamentary Reception

In this podcast Hubert speaks to 3 more MPs about what they thought of what they have experienced during RNIB's Parliamentary Reception event. 

Hear from Shockat Adam in this episode, as he talks about being an MP, but also being an optometrist. 

In this episode Hubert catches up with Gavin Williamson MP, as he shares why he attended the event, including personal reasons for doing so, plus how he found his experience. 

In this podcast Hubert speaks to Paula Hamilton, one of the many MPs what came to learn more about sight loss, and the issues blind and partially sighted people face regarding vision rehabilitation. 

Before the event started, Hubert grabbed a word with Ross from RNIB's Campaigns team so preview the event and what we can expect. 

Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading. 

This year, it’s taking place across Scotland between 17–23 November with a curated programme of exciting events and activities featuring Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators.

As part of the yearly celebrations, Scottish Book Trust released a collection of true stories written by the people of Scotland and focused on the theme of Friendship. With over 70,000 free copies available, the book is also available in audio with the support of RNIB.

Joining Paulina Kuchorew on RNIB Connect Radio is Scott Ferguson, one of...

Earlier this week, RNIB have marked two years since the launch of the Eye Care Support Pathway, with an event in Manchester which brought together optometrists, sector leaders and other partners.

The framework was developed by the charity with leading organisations across the eye care and sight loss sectors, to ensure patients have timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey.

At the end of the day, David caught up with Matt Stringer again, to get his thoughts on the day.

Find our full coverage of the event here: Audioboom...

Earlier this week, RNIB have marked two years since the launch of the Eye Care Support Pathway, with an event in Manchester which brought together optometrists, sector leaders and other partners.

The framework was developed by the charity with leading organisations across the eye care and sight loss sectors, to ensure patients have timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey.

Before the official launch of Beyond the Eye, a training course for ophthalmologists, David Hogg spoke to Amanda Hawkins, Dr Tariq Aslam and Dr Mhairi Thurston to get their reflections on...

Earlier this week, RNIB have marked two years since the launch of the Eye Care Support Pathway, with an event in Manchester which brought together optometrists, sector leaders and other partners.

The framework was developed by the charity with leading organisations across the eye care and sight loss sectors, to ensure patients have timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey.

RNIB Connect Radio's David Hogg was in attendance and spoke with RNIB's Anna Tylor.

Find our full coverage of the event here: Audioboom / Reporting From Eye Care Support Pathway 2...

Earlier this week, RNIB have marked two years since the launch of the Eye Care Support Pathway, with an event in Manchester which brought together optometrists, sector leaders and other partners.

The framework was developed by the charity with leading organisations across the eye care and sight loss sectors, to ensure patients have timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey.

RNIB Connect Radio's David Hogg was in attendance and spoke to one of the afternoon’s speakers, Tim Morgan.

Find our full coverage of the event here: Audioboom / Reporting Fr...

Earlier this week, RNIB have marked two years since the launch of the Eye Care Support Pathway, with an event in Manchester which brought together optometrists, sector leaders and other partners.

The framework was developed by the charity with leading organisations across the eye care and sight loss sectors, to ensure patients have timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey.

The event marked the launch of Beyond the Eye, a training course for ophthalmologists. David Hogg spoke to RNIB’s Amanda Hawkins to find out more.

Find our full co...