S2 Ep523: RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 - Campaigner Of The Year Winner
The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Margaret Rees won Campaigner Of The Year Award sponsored by Microsoft at the glitzy event and spoke with RNIB Connect Radio. Photo: Margaret smiles as she poses with her award in front of a large black banner with all the logos for the night in high contrast whi...
4m May 22, 2024
4m
S2 Ep522: The Atmosphere At RNIB See Differently Awards 2024
The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. Let’s hear from some of those in attendance at last night’s event, moments before everything started! 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 p...
8m May 22, 2024
8m
S2 Ep521: Chat With Comedian Jamie MacDonald & Singer Kelsey Ellison
The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners took place in London on Tuesday 21st of May. And we head over to the glitzy event our Toby and Hubert spoke with the host of the night Jamie MacDonald and the entertainer of the night, singer Kelsey Ellison. Photo: A bright pink light box with the RNIB logo set atop a dark round table. On the light box: RN...
3m May 22, 2024
3m
S2 Ep520: Setting The Scene For RNIB See Differently Awards 2024
Off to the RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery winners now as our team on the ground sets the scene. 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 ...
3m May 22, 2024
3m
S2 Ep519: Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920 at Tate Britain
‘Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920’ is an ambitious group show at TATE BRITAIN that charts the 400 year long journey that it took for women to become recognised as professional artists which paved the way for future generations and established what it meant to be a woman in the British art world. On Tuesday 14 May 2024, at the Press View of the exhibition ‘Now You See Us:  Wom...
12m May 21, 2024
12m
S2 Ep518: How Can 50:50 Parliament Support Disabled Women To Progress In Politics?
What barriers do disabled women face in politics? If you’re a blind and partially sighted woman and want to make a difference, 50:50 parliament are a charity that support women to progress in politics. Amelia talked to CEO Lyanne Nicholl and facilitator Natasha Osei to learn more. Learn more about 50:50 by visiting their website 5050parliament.co.uk (https://5050parliament.co.uk/sign-up-to-s...
12m May 20, 2024
12m
S2 Ep517: Charity Chief Exec's Customer Update 18/05/2024
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 started by talking about Global Accessibility Awareness day and some of the things RNIB have been doing to mark the day including ‘Another time’ by Sir Anthony Gormley with alt text description plus alt text being added to the new portrait of His Majes...
7m May 18, 2024
7m
S2 Ep515: Vivienne Francis RNIB Voice of the Customer Report
A new report has been released around blind and partially sighted people’s mental health following diagnosis. David Hogg spoke to Vivienne Francis to find out more.
4m May 17, 2024
4m
S2 Ep514: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - The Drifters Girl, AD Theatre Review
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 remarkable story of The Drifters and the truth about the woman who made them, direct from London’s West end as the UK an...
5m May 17, 2024
5m
S2 Ep511: University and job application tips for VI students
How can you prepare for university as a blind student? Student Abdul talked to Amelia about his university experiences, preparing for his next steps and advocating for job applications to be provided in accessible formats. 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 blac...
7m May 16, 2024
7m
S2 Ep516: Sight Loss Story Matthew Johnson
Cue: Now time to find out what life is really like living with sight loss as our David Hogg chats with Matthew Johnson.
7m May 16, 2024
7m
S2 Ep510: Another Time by Sir Antony Gormley Turns the Tide on Access to the Arts
For Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Thursday 16 May 2024 one of Sir Antony Gormley’s sculptures ‘Another Time’ which was installed on Fulsam Rock near Tate Contemporary Margate in 2017 which only appears three hours before low tide will now also be accessible to everyone through alt text descriptions found on the railings in front of the sculpture on margate beach. The alt text descr...
7m May 16, 2024
7m
S2 Ep513: Volunteers' Week 2024 - Malcolm's Story
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. Let’s meet an RNIB Volunteer, Malcolm, who helps deliver the Living Well With Sight Loss Courses in Wales. He told Amelia what RNIB means to him and why he loves being a volunteer. Learn more about volunteering on the RNIB website - Volunte...
7m May 16, 2024
7m
S2 Ep512: Research Into Experiences Of Loneliness For Blind & Partially Sighted People
Charities Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation released a report highlighting the acute experiences of loneliness among people who are blind or vision impaired. The report, based on evidence gathered by Abertay University, found that blind and vision impaired people are three times more likely to experience loneliness or isolation than the general population. Joining our Paulina Kuchorew to ...
9m May 15, 2024
9m
S2 Ep510: RNIB Launches New Be Helpful Guide and Campaign
The RNIB has just launched the new ‘Be Helpful Guide’ and campaign with the aim to encourage more sighted people to offer a helping hand or voice, rather than waiting to be asked. As we know the world is not really designed with blind and partially sighted people in mind and recent RNIB research tells us that almost 9 in 10 blind or partially sighted people may need some help when they’re maki...
10m May 15, 2024
10m
S2 Ep509: RNIB Connect Voices Round up 15 May 2024
Alice Findlay, RNIB Customer Voice Insight Co-ordinator shares the latest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in with RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey. Opportunities highlighted this week included: Help the RNIB to review the Giant Cell Arteritis factsheet - RNIB has a range of factsheets for a wide variety of eye conditions. And we're looking for people who ca...
6m May 15, 2024
6m
508: Fundraising walk for Southampton Sight
How can Functional Neurological Disorder effect your sight? Heather told Amelia how it impacted her running, why she took up long cane training and her 25 km fundraising walk for Southampton Sight. Learn more about Southampton Sight on their website https://southamptonsight.org.uk/ Sponsor the walk by visiting Heather's GoFundMe Page https://www.justgiving.com/page/jurassiccoastultrachallenge...
7m May 15, 2024
7m
S2 Ep507: Volunteers' Week 2024 - Dorothy's Story
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. RNIB volunteer Dorothy Leeman chats to Barry Snell about her love of volunteering and being involved with the UK's leading sight loss charity, RNIB. Learn more about volunteering on the RNIB website - Volunteer to support blind and partially...
7m May 14, 2024
7m
508: Pop musician Norma Night on content creation and prosthetic eye pride
Do you match your prosthetic eyes to your glam outfits? Pop musician and content creator Norma Night (also known as Kelsey Ellison) certainly does. She talked to Amelia about her career and love of pop music... 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. ...
7m May 14, 2024
7m
S2 Ep508: Kelsey Ellison on going viral for Twits reaction video
Kelsey Ellison uses her platform to challenge stigma and misinformation about prosthetic eyes. She went viral for reacting to a promotional video, and talked to Amelia about her experience... Find Kelsey on Instagram and Youtube as @kelseyellison, and on Tiktok and Spotify as @normanight. Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. RNIB is written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a ...
7m May 14, 2024
7m
S2 Ep507: Meet The Headline Supporter For RNIB See Differently Awards 2024
RNIB See Differently Awards are just around the corner, with the big night taking place on Tuesday 21st of May. People’s Postcode Lottery are the headline supporter of the awards, with players raising over £10 million pounds for RNIB since our partnership began. We spoke with their Head of Charities, Laura Chow. Find out more about the See Differently Awards here: See Differently Awards | RN...
7m May 14, 2024
7m
S2 Ep506: Text To Speech Products From OrCam
OrCam products uses a smart camera and AI technology to instantly read out text from any printed surface or digital screen. Tech Talk’s Dave Williams has been hearing about several devices in the range, now available from the RNIB Shop. More information can be found on the RNIB Shop website: OrCam Read Smart - Orcam Read Smart | RNIB (https://shop.rnib.org.uk/orcam-read-smart-90864?utm_source...
7m May 13, 2024
7m
S2 Ep505: Victoria Oruwari, Psychotherapy, Blindness, Mental Health and Anxiety
With the pressures and stress of life that many blind and partially sighted people face on a day to day bases there are more than likely many links between blindness, mental health and anxiety. Reaching out to a trained Psychotherapist or Counsellor might be a good way of working through the stresses and emotions of being blind or partially sighted. For Mental health Awareness Week 2024 (13 -...
13m May 13, 2024
13m
S2 Ep504: Gardening Tips With Thrive Charity
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is movement, from more active things like running or doing sports, to something smaller like going out for a walk in nature. Today, we chat with Julia Smith from Thrive, who shares her tips for gardening and growing your own produce at this time of year. Find more tips here: Gardening when blind or visually impaired - Thrive (https://www...
9m May 13, 2024
9m
S2 Ep502: Learn Birdsong With RSPB Pt 2
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is movement, from more active things like running or doing sports, to something smaller like going out for a walk in nature. And to help you enjoy the great outdoors a bit more, we’re joined now by Adrian from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who will teach you to recognise some commonly heard birdsong. Listen to part 1 h...
6m May 13, 2024
6m
S2 Ep501: Learn Birdsong With RSPB Pt 1
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is movement, from more active things like running or doing sports, to something smaller like going out for a walk in nature. And to help you enjoy the great outdoors a bit more, we’re joined now by Adrian from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who will teach you to recognise some commonly heard birdsong. Listen to part 2 h...
8m May 13, 2024
8m
S2 Ep498: Retinoblastoma Awareness Week with CHECT
The 13th to the 19th may is world Retinoblastoma awareness week. Amelia talked to Richard Ashton, the CEO of Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), to learn more about the disease and who is affected. Learn more about CHECT by https://chect.org.uk/ Image shows CHECT logo, an eye with a blue outline and blue centre with the white outline of a baby sitting down. The baby is reaching up towards a ...
8m May 13, 2024
8m
S2 Ep499: Charity Chief Exec's Customer Update 11/05/2024
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 started by talking about the launch of the RNIB’s Be Helpful Guide and campaign which provides hints and advice for sighted people on how best to offer a helping hand or voice to blind and partially sighted people, wonderful news that His Majesty King ...
7m May 11, 2024
7m
S2 Ep499: Taylor Swift - The Era’s Tour Concerts Audio Described at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium
For all those lucky blind and partially sighted Swifties, Taylor Swift fans who do have tickets for the up-coming The Era’s Tour concerts at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on Friday 7, Saturday 8, and Sunday 9 June 2024 there will be live audio description of the concert provided by two of ADA Scotland Describers. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Veronica Kinahan, who has descri...
8m May 10, 2024
8m
S2 Ep499: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - Blue Beard, AD Theatre Review
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 Emma Rice’s up-to-date version of the French folk tale Blue Beard which certainly has a powerful political punch at the Birm...
6m May 10, 2024
6m
S2 Ep499: Outlook Trust - Adventure Sports Activities for Blind and Partially Sighted Children
The Outlook Trust was set up in 2000 to offer adventure sports and activity weekends and holidays for young blind and partially sighted people with activities ranging from sailing, rock climbing, zip wires and much more all from their base on the shores of Lake Windermere. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Jeff Davies from the Outlook Trust to firstly give a bit of background to th...
8m May 10, 2024
8m
S2 Ep500: Raising Money For Blind Veterans UK
This June sight loss charity ‘Blind Veterans UK’ are encouraging everyone to raise money and mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, by getting creative with the number 80. As Hywel Davies has been finding out. If you'd like to support Ian's 'Blindfolded Bimble', you can find more information on his Just Giving page - Supporter of Blind Veterans UK is fundraising for Blind Veterans UK...
7m May 09, 2024
7m
S2 Ep497: Vermeer at the National Galleries of Scotland
National Galleries of Scotland are offering a free descriptive gallery tour and art workshop for blind and partially sighted people centred on Johannes Vermeer's 'A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal'. The event takes place on Wednesday 15 May from 10.15am to 3.30pm. This piece comes Scotland as part of National Treasures, a programme celebrating the National Gallery’s bicentenary. To celebrat...
8m May 09, 2024
8m
S2 Ep496: Sight Village Central 2024 Preview
Sight Village exhibitions are a great way to learn more about products and services designed for blind and partially sighted people in your area. Hywel Davies has been hearing all about plans for this year’s Sight Village Central. Find out more about this year's Sight Village Central here: Sight Village Central - Queen Alexandra College (qac.ac.uk) (https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-vill...
4m May 08, 2024
4m
S2 Ep495: RNIB Connect Radio Wins Gold At ARIAS 2024
Some exciting news to share! RNIB Connect Radio was named Community Station of The Year at ARIAS, the Audio and Radio Industry Awards which are annual awards awarded for excellence in UK radio and audio presenting and production. Our Paulina spoke with Allan, post the big event to hear how it was attending and winning an award. Image: Yvonne and Allan smile wide as they hold up the award, wh...
9m May 08, 2024
9m
S2 Ep494: Supporting Blind & Partially Sighted People With Learning Disabilities
There are over 1 million adults with a learning disability in the UK and it is estimated that 1 in 10 adults with a learning disability will be blind or partially sighted. Sight loss charity RNIB and the CareTech Charitable Foundation worked together to design and roll out a unique package of training to care sector staff supporting people with Learning Disabilities. Our Paulina Kuchorew spok...
8m May 07, 2024
8m
S2 Ep490: Sight Loss Hasn't Stopped Britain's Ambassador To Slovenia
Despite losing her sight at university, Victoria Harrison has risen through the Civil Service to become the new British Ambassador to Slovenia. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Victoria about her education, career and favourite assistive tech, not forgetting her guide dog Otto of course. #RNIBConnect Image Shows Victoria and Her Guide Dog Otto, Posing on a Very Grand Staircase
11m May 07, 2024
11m
S2 Ep484: Gift-Giving - Roundtable
Are you always wondering what to buy, or how to find the perfect present? Or do you have the gift of gift giving? We brought together campaigner, music-lover and tandem cyclist Ken Reid, Assistive Tech Advisor and Tiktoker Alison Bates, and RNIB Connect Radio's own Hubert Pawelkiewicz to talk all things gift-giving. Follow Alison on Tiktok @blindalison Follow Ken on X @kenreid59 Listen to Hub...
28m May 06, 2024
28m
S2 Ep491: Charity Chief Exec's Customer Update 04/05/2024
Each week, RNIB Connect Radio 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 possible changes to Personal Independent Payments from the government, accessible voting, plus the recent Lived Experience Conference. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services availa...
9m May 04, 2024
9m
S2 Ep492: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - Minority Report, AD Theatre Review
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 an action packed theatrical experience with David Haig’s stage adaptation of that iconic sci-fi thriller, Minority Report at...
5m May 03, 2024
5m
S2 Ep493: RNIB's Travel Well With Tech Project
A new project from RNIB is hoping to learn about experiences of blind and partially sighted travellers and also work to improve those experiences. Tech Talk’s Dave Williams has been finding out more.
8m May 03, 2024
8m
S2 Ep489: New members join haggeye
Two new members have just joined Haggeye, RNIB Scotland's award-winning youth forum. Amelia talked to Jemima and Luke about the group and what they’re looking forward to most. Learn more about Haggeye on the RNIB Website https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/scotland/youth-engagement-haggeye/ Follow @Haggeyefamily on Twitter and Facebook. Image shows the Haggeye Logo of a cartoon haggis wearing a ...
5m May 02, 2024
5m
S2 Ep488: Thomas Pocklington Trust DSA Education Select Committee
Thomas Pocklington Trust were involved in the recent Education Select Committee around Disabled Students Allowance. David Hogg speaks to TPT’s Lucy Merritt to find out more
8m May 01, 2024
8m
S2 Ep488: DWP PIP Consultation Rosin Jacklin
The Department of Work and Pensions has launched a consultation into changed to Personal Independence Payment. David Hogg caught up with RNIB’s Rosin Jacklin to learn more about the consultation…
6m May 01, 2024
6m
S2 Ep487: RNIB Connect Voices Round Up 1 May 2024
Clare Aldworth, RNIB Insight Community Manager shares the latest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in with RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey. Opportunities highlighted this week included: Your experience of website accessibility Tilly is a student studying Media Production at De Montfort University. She is currently undertaking research on website accessibilit...
5m May 01, 2024
5m
S2 Ep483: I-SCREEN - A Project to Revolutionise the Care of Age Related Macular Degeneration
I-SCREEN is a project being supported by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast which aims to revolutionise the care of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by developing an artificial intelligence (AI) programme to identify and monitor the early stages of AMD through equipment found in High Street Opticians. Dr Ruth Hogg from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast who...
9m Apr 30, 2024
9m
S2 Ep486: The EziDrops Applicator Makes Eye Drops More Accessible
If you use eye drops regularly then you’ll know just how hard it can be to administer them yourself. There’s a new product in the RNIB shop that could make taking care of your eye health much easier, it’s even had approval from the experts in Dragons Den, as Hywel Davies has been finding out. You can find more information on the EziDrops applicator here: Ezidrops Eye Drop Applicator | RNIB (ht...
7m Apr 30, 2024
7m
S2 Ep483: Lloyd Coleman on The Colour of Dinosaurs
Have you ever wondered what a dinosaur might do in a day?  What they actually really looked like?  What colour were they? Well, these and many more questions will be answered in The Colour of Dinosaurs, a rip-roaring, prehistoric science pop gig for curious humans of all ages at the Polka Theatre in London from 11 May to 9 June 2024 with an audio described performance on Friday 31 May 2024 at ...
18m Apr 30, 2024
18m
S2 Ep474: Sight Support West Of England
Are you based in the west of England? Sight Support West of England supports blind and ps people in Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Amelia talked to Sight Loss Advisor Team Manager, Marc Gulwell, to learn more. Image shows Sight Support West of England logo. Font is dark blue and 'West of England' is inside a white eye shape with a dark blue circle behind it.
6m Apr 30, 2024
6m
S2 Ep474: Film Review: Gregory's Girl (1980)
We’ll travel back to high school crushes and chippies with friends in the 1980 film Gregory’s Girl. Amelia and Allan had a laugh reviewing the Scottish coming of age comedy film, here they are with more. Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'Connect Radio' underneath.
12m Apr 30, 2024
12m