Rnib Connect

As blind Liverpudlian Comedian Chris McCausland and his Professional Dancer Dianne Buswell lifted the glitter ball trophy on Saturday Night (14 December 2024) to win Strictly come Dancing 2024 our RNIB Connect Radio Strictly Star Reviewer blind Ballroom Dancer Shaun Hayward is back with his final review of the series.  For the grand final each couple had to dance three dances, the Judges choice, their show dance and their favourite dance of the competition.   For Chris and Dianne the Judges chose their couples choice dance to ‘Instant Karma’ by John Lennon with that black out moment which gave them a score of 38 from the Judges.  Then to their show dance to  ‘You Get What You Give’ by The New Radicals with again a total score of 38 from the judges. Ending with their Favourite dance of the series which had to be their waltz to ‘You’ll Never Walk alone’’ with the Judges giving them top marks with a total score of 40, a standing ovation from the audience and a hug for Chris from Craig too. Then Shaun and To

What amazing artworks can you enjoy at the National Galleries of Scotland in 2025?  Amelia spoke to Meg Faragher for a rundown of their 2025 visually impaired programme.  Learn more about the National Galleries Of Scotland Upcoming Events on their website - www.nationalgalleries.org 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.

Now time to speak to Peter Marshall, Marketing and Fundraising Lead from Sight Matters, a sight loss charity on the Isle of Man. Sight Matters has been going since 19:36 and provides support to visually impaired people on the Isle of Man. Jennifer Murray finds out more about the charity, the support provided, the closure of their charity shop and more. If you want to get in contact with Sight Matters or find out more, go to: www.sightmatters.im send them an email: enquiries@sightmatters.com or phone them on: 01624674727 Image description:  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 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 with news that the RNIB Pre-Employment Team had won the Tailored Employment Support category at the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Employability 2024 Awards and also some meetings Matt has had recently around employment too.  Then to the great news that two RNIB Volunteers George Sullivan and Stephen Newton are up for the Unsung Hero Category in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2024 on Tuesday night (17 December 2024)  With Matt ending this week by talking about the great achievement for equality and sight loss awareness with blind Liverpudlian Comedian Chris McCausland and his professional Dancer Dianne Buswell making it to the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 and will they lift the Glitter Ball Trophy on Saturday Night (14 December 2024) and win the competition. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the suppo

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 his audio described theatre review of the year plus a couple of highlights of shows he is looking forward to seeing in 2025.  Audio described theatre highlights of 2024 included - The reimagining for the stage at the RSC of Mark Ravenhill’s 2013 radio play’ Ben and Imo’, which told the true story of the passionate partnership between Benjamin Britten and Imogen Holst. The touring production of the Lawrence Olivier award winning comedy musical retelling of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice (Sort Of)’ with only a cast of five women on stage playing all the characters of Pride and Prejudice.  Welsh National Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff which had a bit of a Jacobean feel to the costumes and maybe some influences of Shakespeare coming through too. At the Birmingham Repertory

In this series, archaeologist Simon Tinsley guides us through one of the most dominant, but least understood powers in ancient Greece, the Spartans. In this final episode, how did the Spartan way of fighting set their armies apart from their enemies?

Stitched: Scotland's Embroidered Art is an exhibition at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh which features a collection of beautiful embroidered artworks. As a result of a two-year research and conservation programme by the National Trust for Scotland, many of these pieces are now in a condition to be on public display for the first time. There is a descriptive gallery tour for blind and partially sighted visitors on Wednesday 18th January, and Amelia spoke to Emma Inglis from the National Trust for Scotland and Elinor Brown from Dovecot Studios to learn more. Learn more about the Exhibition and book tickets for the descriptive tour on the Dovecot Studios website - Descriptive Gallery Tour: Stitched | Visually Impaired Visitors – Dovecot Studios Learn more about the National Trust for Scotland on their website - Nature, Beauty and Heritage for Everyone | National Trust for Scotland Image shows a detailed embroidery of orange, pink and blue flowers with green leaves on a table runner from the Hill of Tarvit, F

As we move this week from the semi final in to the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 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 did in the quarter final of the competition on Saturday night (7 December 2024).  For the semi final each of the 5 remaining couples were dancing two dances with Chris and Dianne dancing a Charleston to The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn's 'When You're Smiling' and a Viennese Waltz to Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters’. Shaun and Toby as usual started by discussing how well Chris and Dianne had done with their two dances for the semi final with Shaun commenting that their Charleston was the b-side to their Viennese Waltz.  Then to a run through on how the other couples performed on Saturday night with of course Toby praising Sarah and Vito and reflecting on not only Craig’s Hollywood Handshake for JB but also

During the 200th anniversary of the invention of Braille, the reading and writing system for the blind, North Ayrshire Council, in Scotland, have named a street in a brand new development after the versatile dots. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to RNIB Scotland Director, James Adams, and Councillor Shaun MacAulay, Depute Leader of the council, to find out more. #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background With RNIB In Bold Black Letters With A Solid Pink Line Below

North Harrow Community Library is an independent volunteer-led library in north-west of London. They run a VI group that offers peer support for anyone who has some questions around technology.  Find out more as we speak with Kamal Shah. 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.

Now time to speak to Margaret Keogh, a deafblind woman from Ireland who wrote her book on her experiences of being deafblind and navigating life in general. Snakes and Ladders was released on the 30th of August 2024 and Jennifer Murray finds out more. The book, "Snakes and Ladders" is available in E-book format (via Kindle) as well as in hard copy. It is also available on Amazon. Image description:  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. 

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. 

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 the Royal Shakespeare Company and Wise Children stage adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s award-winning novel ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ as the production transferred to the Barbican Theatre in London with description by Professional Audio Describer Gethyn Edwards. About ‘the Buddha of Suburbia’  South London in the late seventies. High unemployment, high inflation, food shortages and strikes. But despite the winter of discontent, 17-year-old Karim’s life is about to explode into glorious technicolour as he navigates a path to enlightenment. Or at the very least, Beckenham. Director Emma Rice brings her unique and joyful style to Hanif Kureishi’s award-winning 1990 novel, exploring family, friends, sex, theatre and, ultimately, belonging, in a c

If you live in the UK, are of pension age and are struggling with the cost of living crisis, there’s an important deadline for claiming Pension Credit. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Dominic Milne, from RNIB’s Legal Rights Service, to find out more. If you’d like to check what your entitled to, call RNIB’s Helpline on 03031239999. #RNIBConnect Image: RNIB Logo

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 letter which was handed into the Department for Health and Social Care, the value of volunteers and a forthcoming Christmas Carol Concert. 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 Stringer, CEO of RNIB

New e-scooter trials have been proposed in two new cities in South Wales. Hywel Davies has been hearing from RNIB Cymru about the impact the trials could have on blind and partially sighted residents.

Our David Hogg finds out about a panel that took place at Arsenal this week around accessibility and inclusion.  He spoke to Gareth Davies from RNIB to find out more. 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.

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.