RNIB Connect

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.

Children and young person’s charity ‘VICTA’ are offering a number of great opportunities in the winter months. Hywel Davies has been finding out what’s available. You can find more information on each of the events on the VICTA website: Young Achievers Create Family Day - The Tate Modern - VICTA 14-17s & Parents: Pasta Masterclass with Jamie Oliver’s Cookery School - VICTA 14-17 & Parent Chocolate Making Workshop - VICTA

To find out how RNIB Northern Ireland is marking World Sight Day this Thursday, David Hogg spoke to Joe Kenny…

For World Sight Day 2025 (Thursday 9 October 2025) the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB invite everyone to #LoveYourEyes and help make the case for eye care that is accessible, available, and affordable for everyone, everywhere. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Simon Darvil, Head of Communications and Campaigns at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the organisation behind World Sight Day to find out more about WSD 2025, the #LoveYourEyes campaign, the Global Challenge and much more besides. To find out more about World Sight Day 2025, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, the #LoveYourEyes campaign, the Global Challenge and much more do visit - https://www.iapb.world/world_sight_day (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 Cymru have set out four priorities for the Welsh Government ahead of the 2026 Senedd Elections. Hywel Davies has been finding out more. You can read a pdf document of the full manifesto 'A Fairer Wales: Equality in Sight', by visiting this link - RNIB_Cymru_manifesto.pdf

Dr Victoria Claire is a Professional Artist In Contemporary Sculpture who is also registered blind and her new exhibition ‘The Sense of Sculpture’ invites audiences to experience sculpture through touch, sound, and emotion in the dark at The Art House in Wakefield from 18 October to 1 November 2025. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Dr Victoria Claire and Damon Jackson-Waldock, Co -Executive Director at the Art House in Wakefield explain more about ‘The Sense of Sculpture’ and how the exhibition will help to show case how art can be made accessible to everyone and especially blind and partially sighted people. For more about ‘The sense of Sculpture’ at the Art House, Wakefield do visit -  https://the-arthouse.org.uk/exhibitions/dr-victoria-claire-the-sense-of-sculpture/ To find out more about Dr Victoria Claire and her work do visit - https://www.victoriaclaire-beyondvision.com/contact (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)

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 London. For more information on the exhibition and how to get tickets, visit the QAC website - Sight Village London 2025 - NEW VENUE - Queen Alexandra College