RNIB Connect

Would you like to learn all about East Lothian Messenger Talking News? Well, Jennifer Murray chats to Veronica Wallace to find out more.

You can contact Veronica Wallace on either of the following phone numbers:

Landline:

01368830363

Personal Mobile:

07879870232

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Something for the Weekend highlights the best in accessible audio content each week. Hear Hannah Sweeney's picks of unmissable content here.

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What would be your first snack after running a marathon?

Amelia spoke to Caroline who just completed the London marathon to raise money for RNIB about her experience…

Learn more about running for RNIB next year here - Run the London Marathon 2026 for RNIB | RNIB

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On 8 May 1945, after almost six years of brutal war, Germany finally surrendered to the Allies, and Victory in Europe was declared.

'VE Day 80: After the Darkness’ is a new Blind Veterans UK online exhibition featuring the extraordinary first-hand accounts from a number of Blind Veterans who were there on the day. Each story is also accompanied by a wonderful illustration by award-winning Artist and Illustrator Martin Impy which is also described on the website too. 

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Martin to firstly find out about his own family’s experiences of WWII an...

With technology advancing and volunteer numbers declining, Jennifer Murray chats to James Walton about the impact this is having on Bolton Newstalk.

You can visit Bolton Newstalk's website and listen to their podcasts. The link to Bolton Newstalk's website is:

Bolton Newstalk

They can be contacted by email at the following email address:

newstalk@icloud.com

It is also possible to listen to the talking newspaper via phone. The paper is also available by calling 01204 226336, this service is for people who do not have internet access or a smart phone.<...

Goalball UK and The English FA have joined forces in the search for new female talent. Hywel Davies has been finding out about the ‘Female Futures’ programme. 

For more information on the programme, including how to take part - visit the Goalball UK website - Female Futures Programme – Goalball UK and The FA Para Football joint initiative! - Goalball UK

Have you ever wanted to get out on the water and try surfing? There’s a surf school in South Wales aiming to make catching waves more accessible than ever. Hywel Davies has been finding out about and event in Swansea this weekend.

For more information on Surfanility UK, visit their website - Adapted and inclusive surfing experiences - Surfability UK CIC

What is international dawn chorus day? How did May Day celebrations begin?

Amelia is here to fill you in with the May Almanac.

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St Albans Cathedral is the oldest site of continual Christian worship in the country, from small pilgrim church to huge Abbey and Monastery, to parish church and Cathedral which has stood firm through Reformation, Civil War, Plagues, and Pandemics.

St Albans is the only Cathedral in the country to house two medieval pedestal shrines that belong to St Alban and St Amphibalus.  The Cathedral dates back 1700 years and is rich in history and traditions.  

So do join Toby for an audio described guided touch tour of St Albans Cathedral with VocalEyes trained Cathedral guide Helen Hughes to...

Each week, on RNIB Connect Radio we sit 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 began by talking about the DCC (Disability Charity Consortium) meeting with the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) on how the DCC work with the DWP going forward covering topics like the review into employment, then to news about the RNIB Grimaldi Building winning the Disability Smart Accessibility Built Environment Award, a thank you to all the RNIB runners in the London Marathon and as...

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey 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 for 2025.

This week we have the brand new stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman OBE’s novel ’Pig Heart Boy’ as the touring production visited the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Faith Florence Agaba.

About Pig Heart Boy:

Based on the novel by Malorie Blackman. Adapted by Winsome Pinnock

Is it bette...

A scheme from HMRC has helped more than half a million people in the UK to top up their savings with a ‘Help To Save’ account. Hywel Davies has been finding who's eligible and how to get started.

For more information, visit the Help to Save website -  Get help with savings if you’re on a low income (Help to Save): How it works - GOV.UK

Jennifer Murray chats to Kate Charles, Chief Executive of VisionPK, a sensory impairment charity based in Perth, Scotland.

If you would like to learn more about VisionPK or contact them, you can do so in the following ways:

VisionPK’s Website:

Home - VisionPK

VisionPK’s Email Address:

info@visionpk.org.uk

Phone:

01738626969

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Ellen Renton is a poet, performer and play-wright with albinism.

She recently received An Unlimited UK Partner Award 2025 commission with Imaginate and funding from Creative Scotland.

She told Amelia about her career and upcoming theatre project, PALS, A musical theatre piece for blind and partially blind children.

Learn more about Ellen on her website - Ellen Renton
Learn more about PALS on the Unlimited website - Pals

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Tim has been a volunteer with RNIB for over 20 years. 

He told Amelia about his most memorable experiences, how his role has changed, and why volunteering is so beneficial to him.

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. 

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 work to stop financially detrimental changes to some welfare payments and we look ahead to a couple of projects that you can get involved in.

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 X or...

Would you like to learn all about Pendle Voice? Well Jennifer Murray chats to Luke Howarth, chair of the Talking Newspaper, to find out more.

If you would like to contact Pendle Voice, you can do so in the following ways:

Website:

Talking Newspaper – Talking Newspaper

Email Address:

admin@pendlevoice.mytn.uk 

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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...

Sight Village exhibitions are a great way to learn more about products and services designed for blind and partially sighted people in your area. Hywel Davies has been hearing all about plans for this year’s Sight Village Glasgow.

Jennifer Murray chats to Michael May from Mid-Ulster Talking Newspaper, based in Northern Ireland.

If you would like to contact Michael directly, you can email him on:

m.smay@btinternet.com 

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Will the rapid growth in independent eye care services put patients with more complex eye conditions at greater risk of losing their sight?  

With increasing numbers of NHS Eye consultants taking on more private work such as cataract operations this could mean fewer NHS appointments being available for patients with more complex conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration which in turn could cause a crisis point in eye care services.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Ben Burton, Consultant Ophthalmologist and President of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to discuss some of the...

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by RNIB Project Support Officer Ian White to find out more about the up-coming RNIB Scotland Living With Sight Loss Information Event on the Isle of Arran on Friday 23 May 2025.

Ian explains to Toby more about the event, who it is for, the other organisations and assistive technology manufacturers who will be joining RNIB Scotland on the day.

To find out more about RNIB Scotland do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/scotland/


(Image shows RNIB lo...

Our David Hogg finds out about a library tour taking place across the UK this week… 

Our David Hogg finds out about a talking newspaper service for blind and partially sighted people in Ayrshire…

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey 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 for 2025

This week we are taken back to Liverpool in the 1980s with James Graham’s powerful new stage adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s BAFTA award-winning TV series Boys from the Blackstuff direct from the National Theatre and London’s West End as the touring production visited the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.

...

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 group of charities meeting with DWP to look at employment, Team RNIB taking on London Marathon on Sunday, and finally he looks ahead to accessible voting for the English local elections.

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...

 A new public speaking club is launching in Glasgow and blind and partially sighted people are invited to come along.

Joining Paulina Kuchorew to tell us more about it, is Conor Joseph, who is a Community Coordinator with RNIB Scotland.

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.

Our David Hogg speaks to professional photographer Karren Visser about their love of photography, how they take photographs with sight loss and some career highlights so far.

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Jennifer Murray chats to Helen McIntosh from Mid Devon Messenger to learn more.

If you would like to contact Mid Devon Messenger, you can do so in the following ways:

Website:
 
Mid Devon Messenger | A Talking Newspaper for the Visually Impaired

Email Address:
 
helen@middevonmessenger.org.uk

Mobile:

07834688838

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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 i...

Now, our David Hogg finds out about a talking newspaper service in East Kilbride…

Jennifer Murray catches up with Pam Downing to learn all about Reading Talking News.

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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.

Tales from the 15th Floor by blind composer Micheal Stimpson reflects on his time in intensive care at Charing Cross Hospital after a life-changing illness that left him blind will have it’s UK premier during a concert celebrating Creativity in Hospitals to thank the NHS in aid of Horatio’s Garden on Friday 2 May 2025 at Sinfonia Smith Square in London.

Michael talks to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about his time in hospital, waking up after the life changing illness that left him unconscious and paralysed in intensive care at Charring Cross hospital for about four and a...

Now for the next in our regular slots here on RNIB Connect Radio highlighting what is on offer at the National Theatre in London for blind and partially sighted people with audio description.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined again by David Bellwood, Head of Access at the National Theatre to chat about a few up-coming audio described shows at the NT and a couple that are available online with audio description via NTatHome.com.

Audio described performances included: 

Here We Are - Saturday 31 May, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.15pm and Thursday 26 June, 7.30pm...

UK sight loss charity RNIB, runs monthly Campaigns Groups to help inform and carry out their campaigning strategies.

They’re looking for more blind and partially sighted people to get involved and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Clay Nash, from RNIB, to find out more…

If you’d like to get involved, email campaigns@rnib.org.uk or call 0303 123 9999

#RNIBConnect
Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background RNIB In Bold Black Letters With A Solid Pink Line Below

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey 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 for 2025.

This week we have the smash-hit musical that is ‘Only Fools and Horses The Musical’ as the current tour visited the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Ellie Packer. 

About ‘Only Fools and Horses The Musical’

The smash hit show ‘Only Fools and Horses the Musical- is on a UK tour dir...

Josh Loebner, PhD, has 20 years of experience in advertising and inclusive design. 

He is partially sighted and supports global brand initiatives centring on inclusive design, disability, and accessibility. He also does research focused on greater disability inclusion within integrated marketing campaigns, and the advertising creative process.

Here he is talking to Amelia about his career so far and the changes he's experienced in the industry.

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Would you like to learn all about Sound Around Ards Talking Newspaper? Well Jennifer Murray chats to Alison Coyle to find out more.

If you would like to contact Sound Around Ards Talking Newspaper, you can do so in the following ways:

Sound Arounds Ards Email Address:

soundaroundards@outlook.com 

Mobile:

07977473080

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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...

With the up-coming local elections in England on 1 May 2025 RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Tom Skelton, RNIB policy Officer and lead on accessible voting to explain all about how to request reasonable adjustments at the polling station to make the experience as accessible as possible for blind and partially sighted people.

Tom outlines the types of accessible voting that you can request to have at the polling station, the forms  of ID that you now need to show when turning up to cast your vote and how the RNIB would like to hear about you...

Ramadan is traditionally observed through visual cues like moon sightings and printed prayer timetables.

Bank Al Etihad and VML Jordan have created a wearable tactile calendar to support blind and partially sighted Muslims engage in traditions independently.

Amelia spoke to Basel Jumaa, Executive Creative Director, and Josh Loebner, Global Head of Inclusive Design, to learn more.

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. 

Are you looking for some accessible easter fun? 

The Farm at Wellsgreen are hosting are bleeping egg hunt this Friday from 3 to 7 pm.

Amelia learned more from Pete about the farm and how you can enjoy searching for chocolate.

Learn more on their website - The Farm at Wellsgreen | Farm Visits, Farm Walks and Events in Fife

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The UK’s leading sight loss charity, RNIB, has recently undergone a 10 month Transformation Programme.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to CEO Matt Stringer to find out why the programme was necessary and what the changes will mean for staff and customers.

If you’d like to find out more about RNIB’s work, go to www.rnib.org.uk
You can also call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask your Alexa device to “Call RNIB’s Helpline”.

Image Shows RNIB CEO Matt Stringer smiling at the camera, with a green leafy backdrop behin