RNIB Connect

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 content creator, disability advocate and host of the Happy Hour Show on RNIB Connect Radio, Claire Sisk has just become an RNIB Ambassador!  Claire Sisk’s sight loss journey began after experiencing two strokes in 2009. She started her social media channels 'Can See Can't See' to educate and break the stigma around sight loss and has supported RNIB’s work throughout the years. She spoke about the announcement with our Paulina Kuchorew. Image shows Claire. She's sitting on the armrest of black couch and smiling gently at the camera, her straight blonde hair flowing down her shoulders. She's dressed in a silky pink short sleeve dress that's gathered at the waist. 

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 in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar was reviewing David Edgar’s 10th play for the RSC with ‘The New Real’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Other Place Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon with description by Professional Audio Describers Gethyn Edwards and Carolyn Smith. About The new Real  In a faraway country, a ferocious election is about to be fought, and it's hard to tell what's real and what's fake. ‘So here’s the offer. To run a highly ethical campaign for a candidate you really can believe in, actually. In a place that needs you. Now.’ It’s the 2000s. We’re in a faraway country. Rachel, a stellar American political strategist, and Caro, her British data whizz, have been hired to fight a ferocious election, in a place where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake. They think they’re here to teach the Eastern Europeans how to do democracy, but it turns out they’re here to learn. And when Rachel’s former political partner Larry rocks up on the rival side, their showdown threatens to change global politics, from Warsaw to Wisconsin. Forever. At a time of epoch-changing elections on both sides of the Atlantic, Holly Race Roughan (Artistic Director of Headlong) directs The New Real, David Edgar’s epic, panoramic play about how the political fault-line was redrawn. An origin story, for right now. For more about access at the Royal Shakespeare Company including details of audio described performances do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access/ (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Cue: November 5th is International Volunteer Manager’s Day. David Hogg finds out more about the importance that a good volunteer manager has on a team of volunteers,

Each week 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 Mat began by reflecting on Rachel Reeves Labour Budget and what it might mean for blind and partially sighted people.    Then to an update on the National Covid Enquiry and how other organisations in the disability sector have been continuing to raise how the Covid Pandemic had affected the lives of many disabled people. Matt ended this week’s update with news about the publication of accessible versions of the Marks and Spencer Christmas brochures and catalogues. 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 also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image shows Matt smiling in grey jacket and wearing glasses. 

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. 

As we move from week 6 into week 7 of Strictly Come Dancing our RNIB Connect Radio Strictly Star Reviewer blind ballroom dancer Shaun Hayward is back reflecting and commenting on how well blind Liverpudlian Comedian Chris McCausland and his Professional Dance Partner Dianne Buswell have been faring in the competition.  Our Toby Davey began by asking Shaun how he felt Chris and Dianne had done with their dance for Halloween week with maybe a few scary moments for them dancing a Sambar to Staying alive by the Bee Gees as not a great performance for them as they ended up joint bottom on the leader board on Saturday Night but saved from the dreaded Dance Off by viewers votes which Chris thanked viewers for while chatting to Claude during the Sunday Night Results show.  Toby and Shaun then talked about what they felt were the best dances from the other celebrity couples on Saturday Night with Toby again praising Sarah and veto.  .  Ending with a discussion about whether it was right for Punam and Gorka to leave the competition.  To follow how Chris and Dianne are progressing through Strictly Come Dancing 2024 along with how all the other dance couples are fairing in the competition, do visit the following Strictly Pages of the BBC website - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq   Image shows Shaun in a recording studio with microphones behind him in front of a colourful drape holding a plaque with medals on in each hand.

Happy 15 years to Sunset Melodies! We spoke with host Gary Moritz ahead of the big anniversary show to find out how he got into radio, how the show came to be and reminisce about his favourite shows and memories from the last 15 years of Sunset Melodies. Catch the 15th Anniversary show on Wednesday 6th of November at 7 pm, with a repeat Sunday at 6pm, and hosted on the website throughout the week: Sunset Melodies - RNIB Connect Radio | RNIB Image shows Gary posing and smiling against a blue background. He has dark short hair, black-rimmed rectangle glasses and is wearing a bright blue polo shirt. A small 'RNIB Connect Radio' logo is in the upper left corner, whilst a pink ribbon in the bottom right reads in three rows: Gary Moritz, Sunset Melodies, Wednesdays at 7 pm.

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 involved in and ask for your input to bring positive change to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, throughout the UK. This month’s topics include accessible health information courses to help you get your info, your way, and help RNIB ask your MP to a Westminster event in November. If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved, email campaigns@rnib.org.uk Visit rnib.org.uk/news or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 If you like your socials, follow @RNIB_Campaigns on Twitter for campaign specific updates. #RNIBConnect 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.

Rachael Reeves just announced her first Budget as Labour Chancellor on Wednesday 30 October 2024. Cate Vallis, RNIB’s Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager, joins Toby Davey to discuss and go through some of the outcomes of Labour’s first Budget in 14 years and how it might affect blind and partially sighted people. To find out more about how the RNIB campaigns to change behaviours and perceptions around sight loss visit the campaign pages of the RNIB’s website: https://www.rnib.org.uk/our-campaigns/ 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.

And for our final spooky season review... Allan and Amelia review John Carpenter's 'Halloween'! Image shows a spoof poster for Halloween (1978) edited to feature RNIB Connect Radio presenters and text. We say spoof, but it's just too good! A green-tinted Allan is in the background standing behind a window frame with a dead-pan expression (a la Michael Myres) while a green-tinted Amelia is in the foreground crouched behind a chair with an angry expression and wielding a microphone (a la Jamie Lee Curtis). The text on the poster is in a 1970s font, at the top of the poster is reads "You Can't Stop The Presenter!" and at the bottom of the poster it reads "The trick is to stay on air." "RNIB CONNECT RADIO'S HALLOWEEN" with listening information below and a small box that reads 'BOOGEYMAN PRODUCTIONS.'

We're back with our movie reviews! And this year, we kick things of with a family-friendly witchy classic, Hocus Pocus. Hear their review of the movie and its audio description, with Allan and Amelia. Image shows a spoof poster of the Hocus Pocus movie. Allan is dressed as Bette Midler's witch Winifred. He has a red wig piled high on his head in a pompadour style, a black dress with big sleeves, red lipstick, rouge cheeks and is smiling with a slight pout. His hands with long witchy fingers and red nails are gently cradled around a blue moon. Behind his right shoulder, a carved pumpkin in a blonde flowy wing stands in for Sarah Jessica Parker. Amelia is behind his other shoulder, smiling with a black wig, shaped atop her head like a witches hat. She's dressed as Kathy Najimy's witch Mary. 

In a Halloween special, Jonathan recounts some of his scariest animal encounters. Tune in to 'The Lunch Break' on RNIB Connect Radio every weekday from 12 noon to 1pm for more Travelogues. 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. 

Let’s hear about a social group that meets on Fridays near Edinburgh to play dominoes. Our Paulina spoke with Jimmy, Barbara, and Iain from the group to find out how you can join in and why it's a nice activity to take part in. Image shows the Dominoes group sitting in front of three tables set up in a long line. They're all smiling and looking over at the camera. 

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.

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.

Seable Holidays offer accessible, inclusive tailored, and group holidays for blind and partially sighted people with trained assistance for a happy, stress-free holiday. From Sunday 19 to Friday 24 January 2025 Seable Holidays have a great sounding skiing trip to Italy open to anyone who is visually impaired whether they have never skied before or have been skiing for a number of years.  RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Lucy Ashton from Seable Holidays to find out more about this amazing skiing trip and what will be on offer each day both on and off the slopes. The deadline to book a place on this Skiing Trip is 8 December 2024, to find out more and book do either email lucy@seable.co.uk, call the office on 020 3375 or visit their website for more details - https://seable.co.uk (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Time to catch up with Visionary, a membership organisation for sight loss charities across the UK. Fiona Sandford from Visionary and Bhavini Makwana from Thomas Pocklington trust (TPT) joined Amelia to talk about TPT's new report 'You Said, We Did - Listening Month Update'. Learn more about the report on TPT's Website - You Said, We Did - Listening Month Update - Thomas Pocklington Trust Learn more about Visionary on their website - Welcome to Visionary - Visionary 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 been 30 years since the creation of the very first QR code to save space on automative parts barcodes. These days, we’re seeing more and more Accessible QR codes included on UK’s most beloved brands to make their products accessible to blind and partially sighted people. Charity RNIB has been championing accessible design by working closely with brands to help make these changes the norm. So as we celebrate 30 years of the QR code, let’s find out a bit about some of the work RNIB has been involved in to make a difference. Speaking with Paulina Kuchorew is Daphne Mavroudi-Chocholi, Managing Director of RNIB Enterprises. 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 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 encourages listeners to engage with the NHS Big Conversation and there’s news about collaborative work with Motability. 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 also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image of Matt smiling in grey jacket and wearing glasses.