RNIB Connect

RNIB Cymru are giving Welsh language speakers the opportunity to shape how the language is being used in screen reader software. Hywel Davies has been finding out more. For more information and details on how to join the panel, email cymru@rnib.org.uk

With the publication of the RNIB Life on Pause report stating that thousands of people with sight loss remain Out of Sight, with challenges in accessing local vision rehabilitation services leaving them without the support that they need to live life to the full. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Chloe Hesse about not only coming to terms with her sight loss but also her journey with local vision rehabilitation  To find out more about the Life on Pause report and how you can get involved in the Out of Sight campaign and sign the petition calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to make sure blind and partially sighted people get the support they need, when they need it do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaign-with-us/support-a-campaign/out-of-sight/ (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)

RNIB are launching a new phase of their Out of Sight Campaign and you can get involved. Amelia spoke to Vivienne Francis, RNIB Chief Strategy And Public Affairs Officer, to learn more. To sign the petition visit: https://bit.ly/RNIBOutOfSight 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)

A pivotal European clinical trial of a new electronic eye implant has seen remarkable results.  The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed 84% of participants were able to read letters, numbers and words using prosthetic vision through an eye that had previously lost its sight due to the untreatable progressive eye condition, geographic atrophy with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Mahi Muqit, senior vitreoretinal consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London who lead the UK arm of the trial to explain more about the results of the study and the technology used too. There is more information about this new pioneering eye device on the following pages of the Moorfields Eye Hospital website which also includes a link to register on the Moorfields research portal, ROAM which will give you access to current and future research - https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/pioneering-eye-device-restores-reading-vision-to-blind-eyes (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)

UK sight loss charity RNIB, has launched the first round of its job placements for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Heather Barbara, RNIB Employment Advisor, to find out more. If you’d like more info on the job placements, go to www.rnib.org.uk/jobs You can also call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Connect Radio Logo

Find out about a Peer-to-Peer Support Group in Northern Ireland, that helps connect blind and partially sighted 18- to 35-year-olds. Organised by RNIB Northern Ireland, the group organises engaging activities for members to try out and do something fun together. Speaking with RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew are members of the group, Natalie Devine and Cerys Stewart. To inquire about the group, call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk  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.

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 new tech offering from Be My Eyes and Tesco, there’s news from Waymo and are you thinking about Christmas? 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 Amazon device to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image Show  CEO of RNIB, Matt Stringer, Matt Is Wearing Glasses And A Grey Jacket

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. As we celebrate the 250 anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, we have a brand new stage adaptation of her comedy of manners with ‘Emma’ presented by Bath Theatre Royal at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith About ‘Emma’  “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like” The beautiful, high-spirited Emma Woodhouse is determined that she will never marry but loves to meddle in her friends and neighbours’ relationships. When her confidante and former governess, Miss Taylor weds her fiancé Mr Weston, Emma, having introduced the couple, takes credit for the marriage and decides that a future in matchmaking lies ahead of her. So begins a comic journey through the lives and loves of Emma’s acquaintances but as the romantic web she weaves amongst her friends becomes ever more entangled, will Emma herself get swept up in true love’s wake…? Jane Austen’s enduring comedy of manners is filled with memorable characters – the dashing Mr Knightley, Emma’s friends Jane Fairfax and Harriet Smith, the mercenary Reverend Elton and his delightfully pretentious wife Augusta. This delightful new stage adaptation celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen‘s birth. To find out more about Bath Theatre Royal’s production of Emma as it continues on it’s UK tour do visit - https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/emma/ And for more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre do go to - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/ (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)

Lets hear about another company that’s achieved RNIB’s Visibly Better Employer standard. David Hogg speaks to Alex Winstanley from Happy Smiles Training and RNIB Employment Advisor Roy Imeson.

Channel 4’s reality challenge series ‘Hunted’ has returned. Ordinary people on the run from a team of expert hunters. But how different would the challenge be if you were partially sighted? Hywel Davies has been speaking to two of this year’s contestants.

International theatre-collective Fish in a dress will be bringing their critically-acclaimed show ‘The City for Incurable Women’ back to the Camden people’s Theatre from 22 - 25 October 2025 with audio description at every performance.  ‘The City for Incurable Women’ is an outrageous tale of medical misogyny based on the true story of patients performing 'hysteria' onstage in 19th century Paris. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Helena McBurney, co-founder of International theatre-collective Fish in a Dress who also wrote ‘The City for Incurable Women’ to find out more about the show and the collective too. For more about ‘The City for Incurable Women’ by Fish in a Dress and the AD performances at Camden People’s Theatre do visit - https://cptheatre.co.uk/whatson/The-City-for-Incurable-Women-2025 (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)

There’s a sale on in the RNIB Shop. David Hogg finds out more…

Scottish Queer International Film festival is back for it’s 10th year, with a variety of audio described films and accessible events. Amelia spoke to SQIFF Director Indigo Torres, SQIFF Access Coordinator Charlie Little and RNIB Scotland Social Action Community Co-ordinator James Kyle to learn more. See the programme and book your tickets here - SQIFF – Scottish Queer International Film Festival 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. 

Blind football teams from across the globe gathered in India earlier this month for two major competitions. Hywel Davies has been hearing how the sides from England got on. For more information about Blind Football, visit the FA's website - Blind Football | England Football

Paulina speaks with two young members of a peer-to-peer support group ran by RNIB Northern Ireland… Learn more about the services offered by RNIB NI here - Northern Ireland - services, support and information | RNIB 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. 

It’s National Braille Week and we’re speaking to the team at Dot, hearing about their tactile graphics and multi-line braille display, the Dot Pad X.

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 buy talking about the announcement of RNIB’s new Chief Executive, Simon Antrobus who will be taking over from Matt in early January 2026 and then to a bit of a round-up of RNIB presence at the Political Party conferences including the RNIB Fringe Event at the Labour Party conference. 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 Amazon smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect (Image shows a smiling Matt)

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. This time Rifco Theatre, the award-winning theatre company behind hits like Frankie Goes to Bollywood and Britain's Got Bhangra, gave audiences an evening of laughter, romance, and larger-than-life entertainment with ‘Surinderella’ at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Michael Hurst. About ‘Surinderella’ Welcome to The Bolly-woods, where the naach is non-stop, the drama is bigger than your aunties, and the romance is straight out of a filmi blockbuster! Meet Surinder – sweet, strong, and stuck in a never-ending chore list thanks to her two selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters who give her the name Surinderella.  Her only real support is the one and only Basanti, a cow with more attitude than a desi girl. Meanwhile, Prince Ravi  is drowning in shaadi pressure from his royal family. But when he accidentally bumps into Surinderella, sparks fly faster than a Bollywood dance sequence! Enter the fabulous Devi Godmother, arriving in full-on glam mode with magic, makeovers, and masala moves. With a dazzling Bollywood Ball, a mystical slipper, and a lot of bakwas, Surinderella’s destiny is about to get a serious glow-up! Produced by Rifco Theatre & Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, in Association with Imagine Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre. For more about ‘Surinderella’ and the current tour do visit - https://www.rifcotheatre.com/live-shows/surinderella-2 (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 we embrace the colder seasons and look after our mental health? For our ‘wintering’ roundtable, we brought together four panellists to share tips for making the cold months feel a bit brighter and discuss how they’ve gotten through darker times in their lives. Join Professor of Applied Counselling and Psychotherapy Research in Sight Loss Mhairi Thurston, RNIB Connect Radio’s Pete Wild, Yoga teacher Dawn Blezard and Social Action Community Coordinator James Kyle for a cosy and candid roundtable. Learn more about Pete here - Meet the RNIB Connect Radio presenters | RNIB | RNIB Listen to Dawn on the Happy Hour - The Happy Hour - RNIB Connect Radio | RNIB Learn more about Mhairi here - Professor Mhairi Thurston

Award-winning musician and activist Lachi is about to release her new book, offering a fresh perspective on disability as a source of strength, innovation, and cultural power. Hywel Davies found caught up with the author ahead of the book’s January release.