RNIB Connect

The highly acclaimed Get Gospel Choir will be providing the entertainment at the RNIB Evening of Festive music at Westminster Chapel on Thursday 4 December 2025. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Jules Rendell founder of the get Gospel Choir to find out all about the history of the choir, a flavour of the festive tunes that they will be performing at the RNIB Evening of Festive music...

Glen Turner is a carer for his mum as she ages and her sight deteroirates. He's been sharing the challenges and lessons from his experience on his blog, Well Eye Never, and told Amelia how he's been looking after himself. Find out more about Glen and read his carer's journal here -  Well Eye Never – Visually impaired accessibility advocate, culture vulture & London explorer Image shows the RNI...

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 An important government paper on Employment and 2 big events the charity is behind on health and employment, plus a nod to the recent industry wins for RNIB Connect Radio. If you, or someone you know, would lik...

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 of his regular audio described theatre reviews. This week we are back at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon  again as Vidar reviews Emily Burns’ bold and contemporary production of Shake...

Ahead of their opening game in the IBSA Partially Sighted Futsal World Championship, Hywel Davies caught up with the England Head Coach Duncan Gilchrist, for his thoughts before of the tournament. 

Holly Thomas is a visually impaired Dance Artist, Choreographer and Audio Description Practitioner. ‘Half Light’ invites audiences to awaken your senses and tune in to a reality where movement is revealed in sound. Part biographical, part fiction, Half Light draws upon Holly Thomas’ lived experience of visual impairment and parenting to unmask a multi-generational story about the courage it takes...

Have you ever wanted to try the sport of Futsal? There’s a new club and new training opportunities coming to Hertfordshire, as Hywel Davies has been finding out.

The RNIB elves are working with Santa to get lots of accessible letters out to blind and partially sighted children before Christmas. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell dropped into the Grotto to chat to Titch the Elf, try some quizzing and listen to Santa chatting with a little one… If you know a blind or partially sighted child, who’d love a letter, go to www.rnib.org.uk/santa To complete the fo...

Which Geese will be taking to the sky this month? Why do we celebrate fireworks night? Amelia shares some of the birds, celebrations and folklore you can enjoy this November. Learn more about the nature you can enjoy every month on the RSPB website - The year in nature Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a b...

There are many ways in which you can help the RNIB in making a more inclusive society for blind and partially sighted people and one way is through the regular RNIB Voice of the Customer Focus Group meetings. The most recent Focus Group meeting was all about looking at the experience of volunteering as a blind or partially sighted person. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Charlotte Jon...

Did you know that there are times when a guide dog is trained to ignore a request from it’s owner when out and about? RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Tim Stafford from Guide Dogs to find out why… If you’d like more info on Guide Dogs UK, go to www.guidedogs.org.uk #RNIBConnect Image Show RNIB Logo, White Background, RNIB In Bold Black Letters A Pink Line Below With Connect Radio Undern...

Simon Startin is a Visually impaired Actor, Playwright, Director and Activist who has been playing The Blind Profit Tireseus in a thrilling new version of Euripides’ timeless tragedy Bacchae at the National Theatre. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Simon during the run of Bacchae at the National Theatre and not long after attending one of the audio described performances of the produ...

Let’s catch up with blind skateboarder Brett Devloo to hear about his upcoming documentary…

For the first time this year the charity Cards for Good Causes who through their website and pop-up shops sell a range of cards and gifts supporting many charities will be also selling in a number of their shops Braille Christmas cards in aid of the RNIB with an in-store facility to be able to print personalised Braille messages in the cards too. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Chris...

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 of his regular audio described theatre reviews. This week we have a new version of Edmond Rostand’s ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre, which Vidar says is one of the bes...

Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by some of the RNIB Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on. This month’s topics include a call for your help with the assessment debate for Personal Independence Payments and get your MP to a Parliamentary event to support better vision rehabilitation. If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get...

UK sight loss charity RNIB is calling for improved access to Vision rehabilitation Services to help those losing their sight. RNIBs Allan Russel spoke to Alexis Horam to find out why the services are so vital and what are the problems faced by staff. Join RNIB's call to action and sign our petition: https://bit.ly/RNIBOutOfSight Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’...

In this podcast, Hubert chats to Claire Maxwell from our very own shop, as she gives us the lowdown of what's available for customers who would like to start getting ready for Christmas early. 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...

New research published by RNIB shows delays to support following a sight loss diagnosis are leaving blind and partially sighted people at risk. Titled Life on Pause, the report shows a fifth of local authorities in England left people waiting for more than a year for a vision rehabilitation assessment and subsequent support. Whilst 85 per cent of local authorities missed the RNIB recommended timef...

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 the launch of the Out Of Sight campaign and petition, there’s a look ahead to some big events in November and a Christmas nod to the RNIB shop. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support...

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 of his regular audio described theatre reviews. This week we have the sensational story of the Mitford sister’s with 'The Party Girls' at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional...

Art-lovers in south Wales will have the chance to visit a new exhibition that’s been created with the help of blind and partially sighted people. Hywel Davies has been hearing more about ‘8 Voices In Darkness’.

Actor and comedian Jamie MacDonald sits down with RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell for a new series looking at life as a blind person. As you’d expect, their chat has a slightly tongue in cheek take on each topic… For more on Jamie, go to www.jamiemacdonaldcomedian.com Image: A photo of Jamie. Jamie smiles posing in a grey jumper in front of a grey background.

RNIB Cymru are giving Welsh language speakers the opportunity to shape how the language is being used in screen reader software. Hywel Davies has been finding out more. For more information and details on how to join the panel, email cymru@rnib.org.uk

With the publication of the RNIB Life on Pause report stating that thousands of people with sight loss remain Out of Sight, with challenges in accessing local vision rehabilitation services leaving them without the support that they need to live life to the full. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Chloe Hesse about not only coming to terms with her sight loss but also her journey with...