RNIB Connect

Glen Turner is a carer for his mum as she ages and her sight deteroirates. He's been sharing the challenges and lessons from his experience on his blog, Well Eye Never, and told Amelia how he's been looking after himself. Find out more about Glen and read his carer's journal here - Well Eye Never – Visually impaired accessibility advocate, culture vulture & London explorer 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. 

The University Of Bournemouth are exploring how training blind and partially sighted people in Digital Media can improve their wellbeing and social inclusion. Amelia spoke to Catalin Brylla, Principal Lecturer in Film and Television, to learn more... Learn more about the research here - Blindness and media engagement | Bournemouth University 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 talks about An important government paper on Employment and 2 big events the charity is behind on health and employment, plus a nod to the recent industry wins for RNIB Connect Radio. 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. This week we are back at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon  again as Vidar reviews Emily Burns’ bold and contemporary production of Shakespeare’s tale of justice and morality ‘Measure for Measure’ with description by Professional Audio Describers Gethyn Edwards and Carolyn Smith. About ‘Measure for Measure’ ‘To whom should I complain? Who would believe me?’ If you knew you could get away with a crime - would you commit it? Shakespeare’s razor-sharp thriller, directed by Emily Burns (Love’s Labour’s Lost, 2024) is brought up to date in a heart-racing, relevant new version. This Measure for Measure is unmissable theatre with its finger on the pulse of what it means to expose lies, abuse and, ultimately, the truth. 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 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)

Ahead of their opening game in the IBSA Partially Sighted Futsal World Championship, Hywel Davies caught up with the England Head Coach Duncan Gilchrist, for his thoughts before of the tournament. 

Holly Thomas is a visually impaired Dance Artist, Choreographer and Audio Description Practitioner. ‘Half Light’ invites audiences to awaken your senses and tune in to a reality where movement is revealed in sound. Part biographical, part fiction, Half Light draws upon Holly Thomas’ lived experience of visual impairment and parenting to unmask a multi-generational story about the courage it takes to send your child into a world that you may not always understand. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Holly to find out more about her background as a Dancer, Choreographer and Audio Description Practitioner plus all about ‘Half Light’ too’. Half Light’ is on at the Arnolfini in Bristol on Friday 14 November 2025 with performances and touch tours starting at 4pm and more can be found by visiting - https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/hollythomashalflight/ To find out more about Holly do visit her website - https://hollythomasdance.co.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)

Have you ever wanted to try the sport of Futsal? There’s a new club and new training opportunities coming to Hertfordshire, as Hywel Davies has been finding out.

The RNIB elves are working with Santa to get lots of accessible letters out to blind and partially sighted children before Christmas. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell dropped into the Grotto to chat to Titch the Elf, try some quizzing and listen to Santa chatting with a little one… If you know a blind or partially sighted child, who’d love a letter, go to www.rnib.org.uk/santa To complete the form by November 30th. Don’t worry if you miss that date, Santa can send a festive email to them, just email santa@rnib.org.uk before December 18th. #RNIBConnect Image Shows Titch The Elf, Titch Is Wearing Her Christmas Dress And Hat, Keeping Warm Standing By The Fire That Has Christmas Stockings Hanging On. 

There are many ways in which you can help the RNIB in making a more inclusive society for blind and partially sighted people and one way is through the regular RNIB Voice of the Customer Focus Group meetings. The most recent Focus Group meeting was all about looking at the experience of volunteering as a blind or partially sighted person. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Charlotte Jones, RNIB Insight Community Manager and Grace Hill an RNIB Volunteer and focus group participant for a bit of an overview of the voice of the Customer Research Programme, and what it is like taking part in one of the focus group meetings. (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)

Did you know that there are times when a guide dog is trained to ignore a request from it’s owner when out and about? RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Tim Stafford from Guide Dogs to find out why… If you’d like more info on Guide Dogs UK, go to www.guidedogs.org.uk #RNIBConnect Image Show RNIB Logo, White Background, RNIB In Bold Black Letters A Pink Line Below With Connect Radio Underneath In Black Letters

Simon Startin is a Visually impaired Actor, Playwright, Director and Activist who has been playing The Blind Profit Tireseus in a thrilling new version of Euripides’ timeless tragedy Bacchae at the National Theatre. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Simon during the run of Bacchae at the National Theatre and not long after attending one of the audio described performances of the production to firstly find out why Simon wanted to study theatre at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama, how he found it during the rehearsal process and preparing to play Tireseus on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage, what help he needs when performing as a visually impaired actor and whether it was the right casting for him to be playing the blind profit in Bacchae. To find out more about access at the national Theatre including details of audio described performances of NT productions do visit - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/ (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)

Let’s catch up with blind skateboarder Brett Devloo to hear about his upcoming documentary…

For the first time this year the charity Cards for Good Causes who through their website and pop-up shops sell a range of cards and gifts supporting many charities will be also selling in a number of their shops Braille Christmas cards in aid of the RNIB with an in-store facility to be able to print personalised Braille messages in the cards too. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Christine Ansell, chief Executive of Cards for Good Causes to give some background to the history of the charity and why they decided to offer Braille cards with the personalised in-store Braille message writing facility too.  To find out more about cards for Good Causes and the locations of their pop-up shops do visit - https://cardsforcharity.co.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)

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 week we have a new version of Edmond Rostand’s ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre, which Vidar says is one of the best productions he has seen in Stratford-upon-Avon with description by Professional Audio Describers Emily Magdij and Annette Stocken. About ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’  ‘No master to serve, no leash to bear. I walk as I please, and I speak as I dare.'   Poet, soldier and philosopher. Cyrano de Bergerac burns with brilliance. He's fiercely funny and intensely romantic – but behind the veil of wit is one large problem: his nose.   Haunted by doubts and too proud to beg, he watches from the shadows as Roxane – bold, beautiful and seemingly unreachable – falls for another man, Christian. But this handsome, tongue-tied young suitor knows his only hope of charming Roxane is to seduce her with words. And only one person can help…   Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester (Riviera, Hustle, National Theatre Othello and Henry V) is Cyrano. Director Simon Evans (Staged, The Dazzle, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg) co-adapts with Debris Stevenson (Poet in Da Corner, My Brother’s a Genius), bringing new life to this thrilling, lyrical tale of love and lies, longing and disguise. 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 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 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 working on. This month’s topics include a call for your help with the assessment debate for Personal Independence Payments and get your MP to a Parliamentary event to support better vision rehabilitation. If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved , email campaigns@rnib.org.uk You can visit rnib.org.uk/news  or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 Follow @RNIB_Campaigns on your socials or search for RNIB Campaigns #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Connect Radio Logo, White Background, RNIB In Bold Black Letters, A Solid Pink Line Below & Connect Radio In Black Letters Below

UK sight loss charity RNIB is calling for improved access to Vision rehabilitation Services to help those losing their sight. RNIBs Allan Russel spoke to Alexis Horam to find out why the services are so vital and what are the problems faced by staff. Join RNIB's call to action and sign our petition: 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.

In this podcast, Hubert chats to Claire Maxwell from our very own shop, as she gives us the lowdown of what's available for customers who would like to start getting ready for Christmas early. 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.

New research published by RNIB shows delays to support following a sight loss diagnosis are leaving blind and partially sighted people at risk. Titled Life on Pause, the report shows a fifth of local authorities in England left people waiting for more than a year for a vision rehabilitation assessment and subsequent support. Whilst 85 per cent of local authorities missed the RNIB recommended timeframe to offer assessments. This means thousands of people with sight loss remain Out of Sight and unable to access the support they need to live life to the full. Joining us now to share her experience of accessing rehabilitation services and the importance of being able to access them early on is Bhavini Makwana. Join RNIB's call to action and sign our petition: 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.

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 the launch of the Out Of Sight campaign and petition, there’s a look ahead to some big events in November and a Christmas nod to the RNIB shop. 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 shows 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. This week we have the sensational story of the Mitford sister’s with 'The Party Girls' at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith. About ‘The Party Girls’ The glamorous Mitford girls cut a glorious swathe through pre-war high society, amidst the glittering world of debutantes and dukes. But as Fascism rises and political storm clouds crackle over carefree country houses, the bonds of sisterhood are threatened by new and treacherous desires. Amy Rosenthal’s compelling, touching and witty new play explores the true story of a family riven by political extremism, seen through the eyes of Jessica (Decca) Mitford as she battles to stay true to her beliefs. Nancy aspires to be a celebrated novelist, Diana and Unity fall for the dangerous, charismatic leaders of the Far Right in Britain and Germany, and Debo sets her cap at a Duke. Meanwhile Decca crosses continents in her own passionate pursuit of love – but can she ever escape her sisters and her past? To find out more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre do visit - 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)