Reflections from Torch Trust

In this Episode, we join musician Kate Risdon as she goes on a tactile tour of Peterborough Cathedral and in Thought Of The Week, we hear Iain Lackie’s reflection on busyness. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

Easter is the biggest act of forgiveness there ever was, in that Jesus atoned for our sins. So in this Easter edition, we focus on stories of forgiveness and new beginnings. We hear reflections from some Torch staff, an interview with audio producer Elliott Frisby about forgiving his dad as well as forgiving himself, and […]

Good Friday is an important day in the Christian calendar. So in this edition, we talk to Iain Lackie, who came to faith on Good Friday, and we reflect on why keeping the good in Good Friday makes sense, despite it being a painful day for those who live it as well as what it […]

This Palm Sunday edition explores the kind of king Jesus was through Bible readings and reflections. The fact that he came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey suggests that he represented servitude and humility, very different qualities to what’s normally associated with a ruler. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]

In this episode we hear a fascinating conversation between Marilyn and her ministry partner Tracy about how they work together when one is deaf and the other is blind. Author Emily Owen also talks about why she chose to learn sign language when she became deaf. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, […]

This week we’re marking Mothering Sunday and looking at some of the mothers who are featured in the Bible. We’ll also hear some poetry and of course have a Thought for the Week too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In this edition of Reflections, we hear from author Alex Banwell, as she talks about her life, her writing, and the themes explored in her books Just Benny and Releasing Janet. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In this edition of Reflections, we hear more about the Passion for Life initiative, as Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins speaks to evangelist and author Rico Tice about its vision and purpose. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week we revisit a selection of Marilyn’s reflections, exploring faith, hope and everyday life. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In honour of Valentine’s Day on the 14th, we’re exploring how weddings can be made more accessible and sight loss friendly with the help of two people who speak from experience: Niall, who got married 5 years ago and is visually impaired, and Linn who got married 4 years ago and is blind.

The 08th of February in 2026 marks Autism Sunday, and this week on Reflections we chat with the Sensory Healthy Church about how they’re helping churches become more accessible for those living with sensory conditions like Autism and ADHD. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

We’re covering plenty in this week’s edition of Reflections, including hearing about some new technology for those living with sight loss to help them access live events, we’ve got the latest news on Torch Holidays which are taking place in 2026, and we’ll be marking national story telling week with a quick catch up with […]

On Reflections this week, we’re going to hear the testimony of Doctor Trevor Stammers, a man of science, an expert in medical ethics, and a GP on the verge of total burnout, who in conversation with Mark Maddavan, shares the story of how in a single hour his world went dark, lost his sight, but […]

We’ve reached the middle of January, when Christmas seems like a distant memory, and spring is still far away. So in this episode, we speak to opera singer and psycho therapist Victoria Oruwari who gives us some tips on how to find joy in the middle of the heart of the winter. To contact Torch […]

Most of us has felt that God can seem far away sometimes, no matter where we are on our faith journey. In this episode, we hear from Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins who talks about how we can hold on to a bigger truth, that God is always with us no matter what. And Marilyn Baker […]

In the first 2026 edition of Reflections, we dive into the journey of the three magi through a poem and a creative piece by our late friend and former Chair Of Trustees, Dr. Mike Townsend. Coptic Christmas is taking place the day after Epiphany. And we also hear from Phil Hanna about how itis celebrated. […]

In the final 2025 episode of Reflections, we revisit some of our favourite moments throughout the year. They include the new Torch initiatives, The Hopes Project and The Chaplaincy Service, the interview with deaf author and music lover Emily Owen, the Sound without Sight project, The Assante Twi Braille Bible and the amazing Beech Band […]

In this Christmas Day Special, we journey to Nigeria, Sweden and Norway to hear how Christmas is celebrated there. We hear the Nativity reading from Luke 2 1-20, Catherine Campbell’s Christmas day reflection from her book Journey With Me Through Christmas and we hear from visitors to Sight Village London about what Christmas means to […]

On the final Sunday in Advent, churches around the world light the candle that symbolises love. In this episode we hear from Catherine Campbell, the author of Journey With Me Through Christmas as she reflects on who has shown her Christlike love and what love in action looks like to her. We also talk about […]

For the third Sunday in Advent, we focus on the theme of joy. In this episode, Torch Together Coordinator Becky Davies reflects on what makes her feel joyful and Chair Of Trustee tony Brown shares a funny story about Billy Graham, a Limousine and a very surprised police officer. All excerpts from Journey With Me […]

The second Sunday in Advent is all about peace. In this episode, Torch’s head of Production Paul Rhodes reflects on how the fact that he never worries about anything makes him experience peace, the peace the shepherds must have felt when the angels revealed the news of the birth of Jesus and we hear a […]

It’s the first Sunday in Advent, and in churches all around the world, one candle is being lit to signify hope. So this episode features a hopeful reflection from Vicki Bryson, a snippet from last year’s carol service and a excerpt of the book Journey With Me Through Christmas by Catherine Campbell, which focuses on […]

It’s easy to talk about the more challenging aspects of being blind. And although it’s important to do so, to improve quality of life for blind and partially sighted people, it’s also important to stop and appreciate when being blind can give you advantages in life. In this episode, we’re hearing from Stephanie Sergeant about […]

With so many things going on in the world today, from wars and famines, to increased costs of living, it’s easy to feel anxious and perhaps a little sad and confused. Today’s episode reflects on how we can still turn to God’s promise of hope in these confusing times. We hear from Marilyn Baker herself, […]

Remembrance Sunday is marked on the closest Sunday to Remembrance day itself and features many of the same rituals, including the wearing of poppies and the two minutes silence. This week’s episode features a conversation between Producer Linn davies and former staff member Matthew Horspool, taken from our Insights podcast, about things blind and partially […]

Client Services is the first point of call when you get in touch with Torch, and this week’s episode features new team leader Julie Jones. Julie talks about differences between life in South Africa and the UK, her sight loss journey and the main areas she’d like to focus on in her new job. To […]

It’s nearly the end of October. And since this is the first Sunday after the clocks have gone back, Marilyn reflects on different aspects of time, from how Jesus always made time to heal those who needed it, to how time is a love language. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call […]

This episode features some reflections from Marilyn’s personal podcast Hope For The Heart. She touches on how different people in the Bible dealt with the huge responsibilities and blessings they were entrusted, including Mary, who became the earthly mother of Jesus. She also shares a real life story about the positive effects of love and […]

In this week’s episode we give you a special edition celebrating Sight Loss Sunday. This is Torch’s invitation to churches to wake up to the gifts of blind and partially sighted people. We hear this year’s sermon by Phil Bryson and reflections on what it’s like to be blind and partially sighted and in leadership […]

Today Autism and neurodiversity is something we’re getting a much better understanding of, though, if you’ve met one Autistic person, you’ve only met one. When author Robert Noble was growing up in the 50s and 60s however, his conditions were not well understood, landing him in a variety of different situations from the funny to […]

This week, we’re sitting down to speak with Revd Canon Michael Mitton, writer, speaker and director, who is going to lead the upcoming 2025 Torch Retreat. We talk about how he got into writing, and dig deeper into the subject of God through the four Seasons, which he will be talking about at the retreat. […]

Angels appear frequently in the Bible, and many of us probably have an idea of what angels might look, feel or sound like. This episode features an interview with Stephanie Sergeant, who shares the many ways she believes angels have come to her aid. Marilyn also shares a remarkable angel encounter of her own. To […]

This week we’ll hear from Torch Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson about some of the events Torch has participated in recently. This episode also features a devotion by Zoe Byron, Torch’s head of comms, which was first featured on Pure 24 7 breakfast bites. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]

Sight Loss Sunday is an annual event in which Torch is encouraging churches to focus on blind and partially sighted people and their gifts and presence in church life. This year’s Sight Loss Sunday takes place 12 October. In this episode, we first speak to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about how her awareness has evolved […]

This week, Marilyn chats with author and friend Tracy Williamson about her book ‘Unashamed’, which is a powerful exploration of how we can experience restoration from life’s hurts with God’s help. Tracey’s book is also available from Torch in a variety of formats for people wishing to find out more. To contact Torch Trust with […]

This week Marilyn Baker sits down to talk to Reflections producer Linn Davies-who is a trained journalist, Afrobeats singer and writer. Linn talks about working for the BBC, growing an online platform, writing thrillers and the inspiration behind the featured songs. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or […]

Accessible Christian literature remains at the heart of Torch’s mission. And this week we meet the new resources curator, Janette Sturgis, whose working on expanding our library and bookshop offerings. She talks about her love of working in retail, her evolving understanding of disabilities, and shares details about some new discipleship books which she’s particularly […]

This week we sit down to a conversation with Torch’s newest trustee Philip Rice. He talks about his love of the Torch Holidays and his passion to bring children and young people to torch-making the client base more age diverse. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit […]

In this episode we talk to Sarah Brookman, the visionary behind the new Torch Chaplaincy telephone service, which aims to support people going through life changes relating to sight loss. We also hear from Heinrich Barth, one of the chaplaincy volunteers who lost his sight following an brain aneurism in 2019. The conversation with Heinrich […]

This week, Christian Vision For Men’s Carl Beech chats to us about living with Early Onset Parkinson’s, and shares how his struggle to live with the disease turned into a remarkable innovation to help battle his Parkinson’s symptoms. Carl demonstrates the device he’s developed during the programme, which when he turns it on demonstrates just how […]