Torch Trust: All Content

This Sunday marks Sight Loss Sunday, when torch invites churches to reflect on the needs of blind and partially sighted people, so they are better supported during services, or in active parts of the ministry. We're going to hear how very small changes can have a big impact. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.o...

This week we hear about a new type of smart glasses made by an for Visually Impaired people. We learn what's unique about the Mavis Tech glasses, how they came into being and how they differ from a mainstream product like the Metta Ray bans. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

In part 2 of Sheila Armstrong's interview with Helen Keller award winner Kathy Nimmer, Kathy talks more about how she found effective ways to teach sighted students as a blind teacher. She also shares a horrifying experience she had during her teaching years and talks about the books she's written. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.o...

This week, Sheila Armstrong sits down to talk to public speaker, author and former high school teacher Kathy Nimmer. Kathy shares her surprise at receiving the prestigious Helen Keller Award for her public contribution to education, working with her guide dog and how she got into motivational speaking. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtru...

This week Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins sits down with Trustee Ife Akintunde to talk about the article he recently published in Pure Magazine in their series on faith and disability. Ife shares how he went on a journey from not feeling as if his faith was strong enough when prayers of healing failed, to finding encouragement through well-known Bible stories, which made him understand that his life had a...

Why is Sight Loss Sunday Important? And what are some easy steps churches can take to become more inclusive for blind and partially sighted congregation members? In this edition of Reflections we answer these questions through a reflection by Vicki Bryson and a feature by James Brookman about how one man has implemented audio description in his church. We also hear from Sarah Brookman about the up...

All blind people are music geniuses, possess an extraordinary sense of hearing and smell, and live pretty terrible lives. At least that's what common myths would have you believe. Marilyn Baker and Sheila Armstrong tackle these myths in a light hearted conversation with inputs from Jan Turner, long-term friend and former staff at Torch. We also hear the final instalment in our hymn writers series,...

In this episode, Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins talks to producer Linn Davies about an article she wrote for Pure Magazine. In the article Linn shared an experience of having unwanted prayers of healing forced on her when she asked for prayers for her terminally ill mum. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

According to the Anglican Calendar, we're currently in ordinary time, meaning there's no celebratory events going on. So this could be the perfect opportunity to spend more time with God's word. In this episode we're giving you a taster of the different Bible reading notes produced by torch Trust, as well as another instalment in our hymn writers series. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or...

Inspired by our series on artificial intelligence, audio production coordinator James Brookman gives us us an insight into the AI voices behind some of the Torch audiobooks and how he tests their quality. He also reflects on how AI can never know and love us the way God can. And though it's nice to always be validated by AI, it's important for our growth to be challenged by God. To contact Torch T...

In the sixth and final episode of our series focusing on AI, we thought it was time for the AI to take the microphone, so Linn Davies sat down to interview Chat GPT. They discuss why AI makes up things that isn't true, ways to use AI creatively, and whether AI can ever replace humans. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit to...

In the fifth episode of our series on AI, we speak to Richard Powell who works with technology and rehabilitation for the disability charity Henshaw's in Greater Manchester. He shares how AI has changed what rehabilitation looks like, and some fascinating examples of how his clients are using AI to better advocate for themselves, as well as discovering new hobbies. To contact Torch Trust with any...

In part four of our series on AI, we sit down to talk to Reverend Canon Tim Bull about AI in a Christian context. He shares how AI has been adopted by the church, his thoughts on AI verses human creativity and on whether Jesus would use AI if he was here today? To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

This week we continue the conversation between Hayley Boston and Linn Davies about more ways AI is assisting them in their daily lives, as well as some of their future speculations on how AI might evolve in the future. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

In the second instalment of our AI Series, Linn Davies is in conversation with Hayley Boston. They're both blind from birth and share how they use AI in some surprisingly practical ways. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

In the first episode of our six part Series on artificial intelligence, we hear from AI expert Mary Kemp. Mary breaks down the different types of AI, and shares the various ways AI is being used today as well as some future potential uses. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .

Sunday 21st June is Father's Day in the UK and we're hearing from Mark Chester founder of Who Let The Dads Out, who's providing some thoughts for us around being a dad. Plus, we've got the second part of our conversation with former double paralympian Darren Harris, who was one of the most capped players for England when he played for the blind football side. He’ll be sharing more about what he do...

Our guest this week is Darren Harris; a double paralympian who has 10 world and european medals to his name, and was capped over 150 times for the England Blind Football Side - so who better to chat to as the World Cup football tournament gets underway?! Darren chats to us about his career in sport, life and shares more about the journey of losing his sight too. To contact Torch Trust with any com...

In this week's edition of Reflections, Torch's resources Curator Janette Sturgis recommends some of the latest arrivals in the Torch library. Marilyn reflects on the Bible story of Gideon, and in this thought of the week, James Brookman tells us a funny story about an inscription on a gravestone. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org...

For Volunteer Week, we're talking to Samuel Wilkins who edits and narrates audiobooks for Torch. Samuel talks about how he got into working with audiobooks, challenges with audiobook productions as a totally blind person, and shares how some narrators prepare their voices before reading to sound as good as possible. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email...

In this special Pentecost edition, Marilyn talks about what and who The Holy Spirit is, shares how The Holy Spirit has been working in her life, and we also visit the scriptures and hear a sermon from Torch's Vicki Bryson about how Pentecost is relevant to us today. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org .