RNIB Connect

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 another audio described theatre reviews.This week we have the spectacular musical ‘Miss Saigon’ as the current new UK and Ireland touring production visited the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham with description by Professional Audio Describer. About ‘Miss Saigon’Michael Harrison in association with Cameron Mackintosh presents the spectacular new production of Miss Saigon as Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical is reborn for this new tour of the UK and Ireland.In the last days of the Vietnam War, 17 year-old Kim is forced to work in a Saigon bar run by a notorious character known as The Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American GI named Chris but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For 3 years Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he’s fathered a son.The soaring score of ‘Miss Saigon’ features hit songs including; “The Heat is On”, “The Movie in My Mind”, “Last Night of the World” and “The American Dream”.For more about the UK and Ireland tour of ‘Miss Saigon’ including dates and times of performances in theatres do visit - https://miss-saigon.com(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)

With Valentines Day and Mother’s Day on the horizon, one sight loss charity in south Wales is giving people the chance to create their very own bouquet. Hywel Davies has been finding out how you can get involved.

Each month, RNIB Connect Radio speak to some of the RNIB Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on at the moment. Hywel Davies has been finding out more.To complete the Access To Work Survey, visit - https://rnib.in/atw-survey If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved , email campaigns@rnib.org.ukYou can visit rnib.org.uk/news or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999Follow @RNIB_Campaigns on your socials or search for RNIB Campaigns#RNIBConnect

More now from Hubert’s trip to the launch event for autonomous ride-sharing service ‘Waymo’. Where Hubert and guide dog Ceasar got a guided tour of the vehicle.

Have you ever taken a ride in a taxi without a driver? The autonomous ride-sharing service ‘Waymo’ will launch its service in London later this year. Hubert Pawelkiewicz went along to the launch event to find out more. Whilst there he spoke to Guide Dogs CEO Andrew Lennox.

An upcoming football talent day in London is hoping to find the next generation of England players. Hywel Davies has been finding out more.To sign up for the event, visit the Bloomsbury Football website - Bloomsbury X Para Football England Talent Day - Bloomsbury Football

Join Jonathan Abro as he crosses from Albania into Montenegro and makes some suprise friends.Listen to Jonathan's Travelogues every Wednesday on The Lunch Break from 12 noon to 1 pm.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. 

An update on the VocalEyes Describing Heritage: Co-creating Access Project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with the input of blind and partially sighted people from a number of Thomas Pocklington Trust Sight Loss Councils, will explore through the co-creation of audio description in 10 heritage hubs across the country, ways of improving access to museums, galleries and heritage sites for visually impaired people.Now that the 10 museum hubs for the project have been confirmed with workshops at the hubs due to start in March RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Lindsay Bywood, VocalEyes Describing Heritage Project manager for an update on the project, a run down of the 10 museum hubs that have been confirmed, news about the up-coming workshops plus how blind and partially sighted people will be very much at the heart of the project and co-creating the audio descriptions.To find out more about the Describing Heritage project and more on audio description of the arts do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk(Image shows the VocalEyes logo. A speech bubble with 'VOCALEYES' written in bold black letters next to it)

RNIB hosted a sector roundtable last week with Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP where blind and partially sighted people got the chance to highlight issues in terms of support for special educational needs. Following the event, Hubert spoke to Lucy Merritt from Thomas Pocklington Trust to find out more about a framework which is in place to help provide an understanding of support for children and young people with vision impairment. 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 hosted a sector roundtable last week with Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP where blind and partially sighted people got the chance to highlight issues in terms of support for special educational needs. Our Hubert attended the event at RNIB's Grimaldi Building and spoke to some of the young people who provided their lived experience of education support with sight loss.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 hosted a sector roundtable last week with Schools Minister Georgia Gould OBE MP where blind and partially sighted people got the chance to highlight issues in terms of support for special educational needs. Following the event, Hubert managed to catch up with the Schools Minister.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 Scotland has a new project which aims to provide more advice, support, events and community connections for blind and partially sighted people living in rural or isolated areas of Scotland. David Hogg spoke to Marion Bauer form the Scottish Borders

The Scottish Budget was announced recently but what does it all mean for eye care in Scotland? Our Allan Russell  headed to Edinburgh to learn more.

RNIB Scotland is back with their popular accessible explorations of Glasgow museums. Our Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Community Coordinator, Conor Joseph, about their plans for this year and their upcoming visit to Riverside Museum. To find out more, email: Conor.Joseph@rnib.org.ukImage 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 loss charity RNIB, has published the final part of a three stage report on independent travel for blind and partially sighted people. Allan Russell spoke to Ross Megan and Erik Mathies, from the charity’s Campaigns Team to hear about the latest publication on train travel.Find the report here: https://bit.ly/RNIBPlatformForChangeImage 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.

Visually Impaired comedian Jake Donaldson has a new show about nostalgia, sight loss and his boyhood dream of joining the band Weezer.Amelia learned more about the show ahead of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.Book Tickets for the Glasgow International COmedy Festival date at 9 pm on Friday 13th March here - Jake Donaldson: The Fifth Weezer - Glasgow International Comedy FestivalLearn more about Jake on his website - Jake Donaldson Comedy - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree

Let’s talk photography, our David Hogg catches up with VI photographer William Hickie

Let’s talk gaming and how you can get involved in accessible gaming with other blind and partially sighted people. David Hogg has more.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.

Simon Antrobus is the new Chief Executive of UK sight loss charity, RNIB.RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell sat down with Simon to learn more about his career, so far, his thoughts on the charity’s direction and how he switches off from the day job.Image shows Simon smiling for the camera. He is a white man with neat, short fair hair, dressed in a white shirt and charcoal suit 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 a look back over some great theatre shows he saw in 2025 with audio description as well as some highlights of productions that Vidar is looking forward to seeing in 2026.Don’t forget to catch Vidar’s regular audio described theatre reviews on RNIB Connect Radio or via this podcast channel. (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)