Rnib Connect

Volunteers' Week 2024 runs from 3rd till 9th of June and we celebrate 40 years of the event by saying a big ‘thank you’ to all of our amazing volunteers. Allan Russell spoke with RNIB Chair of Trustees , Anna Tylor, about the importance of volunteering and the impact their support has on charities like RNIB. Learn more about volunteering on the RNIB website - Volunteer to support blind and partially sighted people | RNIB | RNIB Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. RNIB is written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath, 'Connect Radio' written in smaller black letters. 

June is the ‘Month of Community’ across the UK. Kicking off the celebrations on the 1st and 2nd of June is the ‘Big Lunch’. Hywel Davies has been finding out how you can take part. For more information on 'The Big Lunch' including how you can take part, visit the website - The Big Lunch 2024 | Eden Project Communities Image: White text on a green background which reads 'The Big Lunch'.

Amelia caught up with Visionary CEO Fiona Sandford and My Sight Nottingham CEO Michael Conroy about the financial challenges small charities are facing. Learn more about Visionary on their website -Welcome to Visionary - Visionary Learn more about My Sight Nottingham on their website - My Sight Notts | Seeing Beyond Sight Loss  Image shows Visionary Logo of a pink and green circle eye shape forming the image of an eye which Visionary in white text below on a dark grey background.

On 12 May 2024 at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the home of ballroom dancing, 10 visually impaired dancers from Step Change Dance Studios took part in the Open National Competition as this year for the first time there were categories for blind and partially sighted dancers.  Molly Randall one of Step Change Dance Studios visually impaired dancers won the ballroom section and also came second in the latin section.  Molly tells RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey all about how she got into dancing, what it was like competing in Blackpool at the famous home of ballroom dancing the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and her hopes for maybe competing in Strictly Come Dancing in the future.  To find out more about Step change Dance studios and their dance workshops for blind and partially sighted people do visit their website - https://www.stepchangestudios.com (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' under

What is it like to have Macular Dystrophy? Allie was diagnosed 15 years ago and told Amelia about her sight loss journey, career and love of running.  Learn more about Allie's recruitment business on her website - About us | Hamilton Munro Learn about Allie's Pizza Oven business on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cart-carriage-events/ Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. RNIB is written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath, 'Connect Radio' written in smaller black letters. 

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 Matt spoke about the success of RNIB's 'See Differently Awards', before moving on to discuss the announcement of a General Election in the UK on July 4th. 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

Now our David Hogg hears about a new study which needs your help…

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 that classic rock opera that is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar as the reimagined touring production visited the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Julia Grundy. About Jesus Christ Superstar: An album that inspired a revolution. A revelation that changed the world. A reinvention for this millennium.  Timothy Sheader (Crazy for You, Into the Woods) directs this mesmerising new production of the iconic global phenomenon, Jesus Christ Superstar. Starring Ian McIntosh (We Will Rock You, Follies, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Jesus, Shem Omari James (Dreamgirls UK Tour) as Judas and Hannah Richardson (Sting’s The Last Ship) as Mary.  Originally staged by London’s R

A new creative workshop in South Wales brought together people with different types of sensory loss to start work on an original audio drama that will combine lived experience with state-of-the-art recording equipment. Hywel Davies has been finding out more about the project.

A new bowel cancer screening kit is being trialled in England. Its developers are hoping it will make testing at home for signs of bowel cancer more accessible for blind and partially sighted people, as Hywel Davies has been finding out. You can reach the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline on 0800 707 60 60

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. After the awards the host for the night Scottish Blind Comedian Jamie MacDonald spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Image shows Jamie being interviewed by Lisa from the RNIB social media team in front of a large black banner with all the logos for the night in high contrast white and some pink accents. Jamie is a while man wearing a navy blue jacket with a white shirt underneath, beige trousers and smart brown shoes and he is holding a folder cane in one hand. Lisa is a white woman wearing a black dress, black tights and black boots and the are both holding small microphones

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May.   Sir Robin Millar CBE was [presented with the Duke of Westminster Lifetime Achievement Award at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Image shows Sir Robin Millar holding his award in front of a large black banner with all the logos for the night in high contrast white and some pink accents. The Award is a black cube with writing in contrasting colours on it. There is a large video camera in the right of the image filming Sir Robin and he is wearing a light blue suit with a white shirt and light blue tie, dark glasses and holing a thin cane with a curled handle 

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Actor Lucy Scott has been supporting RNIB Talking Books for 35 years and got her husband, actor Alistair Petrie involved in volunteering as well. RNIB Connect Radio grabbed a quick word with them before the event kicked off. Photo: A grand ballroom with high ceilings and chandeliers and at the front a white lightbox with RNIB logo on one side of the cube and RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 on the other. The box is atop green foliage at a round table with a black table cloth and contrasting white linen. Beyond the lightbox more set tables. A very glamorous set up indeed.

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May.   Tesco won Employer Of The Year Award sponsored by T&Pm at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Photo: Richard Stanyard on the left and Henry Gosling on the right, holding the award in front of a large black banner with all the logos for the night in high contrast white and some pink accents. The Award is a black cube with writing in contrasting colours on it. Both men are white and tall. Richard is wearing a navy blue suit with a white shirt and Henry is wearing a grey waistcoat with matching trousers and a short sleeve white shirt. Both men are wearing glasses and smiling towards the camera

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Suzie Simons won Volunteer of the Year Award sponsored by Woods Valldata at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Photo: Suzie smiling and posing with her award in front of the backdrop banner with all the logos. The Award is a black cube with writing in contrasting colours on it. Suzie is wearing a pale pink maxi dress with a chiffon skirt with criss-crossing layers, lace detailing at the waist and a crinkle effect fabric across the bust with wide chiffon straps.

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Rebecca Atkinson for Mixmups won Design for Everyone Award sponsored by Red Bee Media at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Photo: Rebecca smiling and posing with her award and a big wooden mixing spoon in front of the backdrop banner with all the logos. The Award is a black cube with writing in contrasting colours on it. Rebecca has shoulder length brown hair with black rimmed glasses. She is wearing a knee length shirt dress in a dainty black and white pattern. The dress has long sleeves and is buttoned at the collar. The outfit is finished with black leggings wit a slight sheen and black chunky boots.

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Kelsey Ellison performed on the night and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio after her performance. Photo: Kelsey posing with a bright pink cowboy hat and a matching pink jumpsuit. Her hair is brown and curly and her make up is pink and sparkly to match the outfit, as is her prostatic pink glittery eye. The jumpsuit has big billowy sleeves, cinched in at the wrists and is adorned with 3 glittery stars cascading down the side of her chest. A blue star necklace hangs low on her neck.

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. And as the big glitzy event wrapped up, we spoke with RNIB's CEO Matt Stringer to find out his thoughts on how the night went. Photo: Matt holding up his light pink tie as he shows it off to the camera. His hair is salt and pepper and wind-swept. He's wearing thin, clear rimmed glasses, and a smart navy suit with a bright white dress shirt. 

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May.   Sally Nevrkla and Georgina Rose from Red Bee Media were at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Photo: A bright pink light box with the RNIB logo set atop a dark round table. On the light box: RNIB written in bold black letters and underlined with a bold pink line and 'See differently written underneath'. Beyond a vast ballroom with tables set for a glitzy ceremony. On a big screen at the end and on the side of the room: 'RNIIB See Differently Awards 2024'

New research suggests that at least 1 in 12 blind or partially sighted people in the UK is a victim or survivor of domestic abuse. Nearly two hundred thousand people. Hywel Davies has been hearing about a new toolkit which aims to improve the lives of blind or partially sighted domestic abuse victims and survivors. Find out more information about the toolkit here: Sight Loss DV toolkit | Beacon Centre for the Blind (beaconvision.org)