Insights from Torch Trust

In the final episode of the Insights podcast, Matthew Horspool sits down to have a chat with outgoing Torch CEO Tim Jeffery. They talk about Tim's time at Torch, how the organisation has evolved under his leadership and the immediate future of both Tim and Torch. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sigh...

In this penultimate episode of the Insights Podcast, we hear from Reflections Sheila Armstrong and Marilyn Baker what makes good Christmas gifts for the blind and partially sighted people in your life. Marilyn also offers a lovely reflection on how the best gifts aren't things, but relationships. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torc...

Christmas cards. You may love them, hate them or feel completely neutral. This week we revisit Linn and Matthew's discussion on this topic. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

As Christmas is approaching many churches are probably planning events both online and face-to-face. This episode revisits Linn and Matthew's tips and advice on how to make online events inclusive and why blind people aren't always a fan of keeping the camera on. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org...

This episode features Becky Davies talking about this year's advent books with Reflections producer Grace Dawson. And if fiction is more your thing, there's also a recommendation for you. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

Linn is joined by Torch trustee Sheila Armstrong as they talk about things that might make it harder for sighted people to approach blind and partially sighted people in their church and what can be done to make things easier. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

At Torch, we help blind and partially sighted people with their spiritual needs, but how about the practical ones? Linn is joined by Torch volunteer James Hassall who works for The Royal National Institute of Blind People as a community connection officer. They talk about how someone like James can help people in a practical way and how Torch and the RNIB can collaborate to give great support. To...

Lay preacher Wendy Coxhill is back to share how she celebrated Sight Loss Sunday on 15 October 2023 at her church. She talks about her multi-sensory prayer stations and also gets reflective with Linn about how much of a blanket sense sight is. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly...

Matthew is back for his final regular co-host duties in this episodes. He and Linn discuss whether blind children can join the Scouts or Guides and reflect on presenting Insights together. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

In this episode Linn continues her exploration of this topic with ordained Anglican priest Melissa Carter. Melissa shares how she approaches prayers for healing with people who ask her for them and they even get into the theology around what healing may look like in heaven. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit tor...

This intriguing topic was one of the first to be discussed when Insights came out. But Linn was interested in exploring it with Melissa Carter, an earlier guest on the podcast who is an ordained anglican priest and registered blind. In part one, they talk about why they consider themselves to be healed already and how church could take a more inclusive approach to looking at healing. To contact th...

In part two of Linn's interview with Ella, Ella shares how her faith saw her through transitioning to a life with sight loss, how sight loss has impacted her interractions in church and some advice on how churches can support people in her situation. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-f...

Many people associate sight loss with being elderly, but it can happen at any age. In this episode Linn talks to torch client ella Abel who lost her sight in her 30s and what impact that has had on her life. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

In the second part of Linn's conversation with Colin Dowling from Compass Braille, they talk about how the merge with Torch came about and how it can potentially benefit both organisations. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church .

Over the next two episodes Linn is interviewing Colin Dowling from Compass Braille, an organisation which provides Braille bibles in over 60 languages to blind people world wide. They are also in the process of merging with Torch. In part 1, Colin talks about how he got involved with Compass Braille and what impact the Braille bibles are having on the recipients lives. To contact the Sight Loss Fr...

Making your church more sight loss friendly doesn't have to cost much and even little things can make a huge difference. Linn chats to Gill Bradley from St Frideswides Church and Jane Sellers from Spurgeons Baptist church, who share a church building, about the steps they have taken to improve their building's accessibility. This has benefitted more than the people with sight loss. To contact the...

Why is Sight Loss Sunday important? With Wendy Coxhil 15 October sees Torch marking the third Sight Loss Sunday which celebrates and raises awareness of blind and partially sighted people in church. Linn talks to lay preacher Wendy Coxhill who reflects on why Sight Loss Sunday is important to her and suggests a few different ways churches can get involved. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church...

First broadcast on Reflections, this is the incredible story of Emma Meade whose life was turned upside down when her flat caught fire. Talking to Marilyn Baker, she recounts the moment she felt something was off while cooking and how her church family came to the rescue in more ways than one until she was back on her feet. You can listen to Reflections on RNIB Connect radio, on our website, or an...

First broadcast on Reflections, this is an interview with David Arthur who leads the Torch Fellowship Group (TFG) in Southwark in London. He talks about how he got involved with the group and how the group is thriving today. It's also currently the most ethnically diverse TFG out there. You may listen to Reflections on RNIB connect radio, our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. To contact...

Linn talks to colleague Becky Davies about how the Torch together holidays are going one year after they launched. What has changed, what has stayed the same and how they have had a positive influence on both participants and volunteers. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, email slfc@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-churc...

In this episode, Marilyn Baker talks to Linn Davies about how and why she got in to journalism. This interview was originally broadcast on Reflections, Torch's radio show on faith and disability in today's world which can be found on our website, smart phone or smart speaker. It's also broadcast on RNIB Connect Radio every Sunday morning at 9AM. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at To...

there are many ways in which blind and partially sighted people can actively participate in church ministry. However, there might be questions around whether they can safely carry out certain types of work. Using practical examples ans scenarios,Matthew and Linn unpack the different types of risks and how best to address them. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 018...

Blind people are just as capable as anyone else of being on the church council. However, there are ways to ensure they are fully included which are being discussed on this episode. Matthew and Lin also talk about how to cope with any challenges both the blind person and other council members might face and the best ways to address them. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust...

In case you've ever wondered whether there are different types of Braille, you will get this question answered in this episode. Matthew and Linn discuss the differences between grades 1 and 2 and their merrits as well as diving into what Unified English Braille, or UEB is and why it's slightly controversial. To contact the Sight Loss Friendly Church team at Torch Trust, call 01858 438260, ema...

In the final Insights Live episode, on this occasion, church elder Anthony croft asks how he can make the screens as easy to read as possible for those in the congregation who have low vision and who prefer to use the screens. As well as answering this, Matthew and Lin also talks about how sight loss can fluctuate which can mean that what someone can see clearly one week, might be harder to see th...