RNIB Connect

Sight Village is the UK's leading exhibition of the latest technology, products, and support services for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was at Sight Village Central in the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham taking in the atmosphere and chatting with a number of the exhibitors and caught up with David from HumanWare for a demo of the Dynamic Tactile Device the Monarch Braille tablet. For more about HumanWare and the Monarch do visit - https://www.humanware.com/en-united_kingdom/monarch/ (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)

Sight Village is the UK's leading exhibition of the latest technology, products, and support services for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was at Sight Village Central in the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham taking in the atmosphere and chatting with a number of the exhibitors and caught up with Julian from the Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP). To find out more about the Technology Association of Visually Impaired people do visit -https://www.tavip.org.uk Image shows Toby posing with his recording kit by a Sight Village banner. Behind him a door open wide shows a busy exhibition space. Toby is smiling and is wearing a light check short sleeve shirt. He's holding his big interview microphone and is wearing his headphones around his neck.

Sight Village is the UK's leading exhibition of the latest technology, products, and support services for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was at Sight Village Central in the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham taking in the atmosphere and chatting with a number of the exhibitors and caught up with Pierre about the soon to be launched Luna Glasses that cold be a game changer for people with a number of eye conditions who experience night blindness. For more about Luna Glasses do visit the Sight and Sound website - https://www.sightandsound.co.uk/product/luna-glasses/ Image shows Toby posing with his recording kit by a Sight Village banner. Behind him a door open wide shows a busy exhibition space. Toby is smiling and is wearing a light check short sleeve shirt. He's holding his big interview microphone and is wearing his headphones around his neck.

British Blind Sport, a UK based charity which champions inclusion and accessibility across sport and physical activity, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to BBS CEO Alaina Macgregor to find out how the charity will mark the milestone. If you’d like more info on British Blind Sport, go to www.britishblindsport.org.uk You can also call them on 01926424247. #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background With RNIB In Bold Black Letters With A Solid Pink Line Below

Time to catch up again with registered blind boxer and wrestler Anthony Ogogo to hear about his new coaching venture and fatherhood…

Each week, on RNIB Connect Radio 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 reflects on two major political events, the passing of the Welfare Reform Bill in the commons on Tuesday evening (1 July 2025) with some last minute major changes to the bill and the publication on Thursday (3 July 2025) of the NHS 10 year Health plan for England. 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 call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask your Amazon device to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image shows a smiling Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, wearing glasses and a grey Jacket.

Would you like to learn about Wymondham Players which is a theatre group? Jennifer Murray chats to Georgette Vale to find out more.If you would like to contact Wymondham Players, you can email them on:[email protected] You can also visit their website at the following link:Wymondham PlayersImage 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.

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 for 2025This week we have ‘Spitfire Girls’ at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.About ‘Spitfire Girls’New Year’s Eve, 1959. Decades after answering the call, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of The Spitfire pub. As we hear their story, we’re transported back to a time when female pioneers defied expectations and soared through the skies.Spitfire Girls is inspired by the extraordinary true stories of the women who dared to fly during WWII and the incredible bond that tied them together. Funny and heart-warming, this is an untold story of strength, courage and loss. But above all else, hope.Written by Katherine Senior, Directed by Seán Aydon, Designed by Sarah Beaton.To find out more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre do visit - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/(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)

NHS England has published its 10 Year Health Plan for England. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Vivienne Francis, from RNIB, to discuss what this could mean for blind and partially sighted people. 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.

Fulham Reach Boat Club, a fairly new rowing club on the River Thames in London, very close to Hammersmith Bridge have been running the ‘Row the Rhythm’ sessions for blind and partially sighted people to give them an introduction to the sport of rowing and the opportunity to get out rowing on the Thames too.RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey made his way down to the banks of the River Thames to find out more about the ‘Row the Rhythm’ sessions at Fulham Reach Boat Club firstly chatting with Julia Philipson, Chief of Community Development at Fulham Reach for a bit of background to the Club and why they wanted to put on the ‘Row the Rhythm’ sessions for blind and partially sighted people.After chatting with Julia Toby caught up with Ollie one of the Coaches at Fulham Reach Boat Club to find out how he found it coaching someone who is visually impaired in rowing for the first time and how his coaching techniques had developed over the sessions with feedback from the visually impaired people taking part in the ‘Row the Rhythm’ sessions. Charlotte another of the Coaches at Fulham Reach Boat Club who is also visually impaired explained to Toby about how she got in to rowing, coaching at the club, coping with her own sight loss and how she can still carry on coaching but in a slightly different way. Finally Toby caught up with Ashley and Angel, two of the visually impaired people who have been taking part in the Row the Rhythm sessions, to find out why they decided to come down to Fulham Reach Boat Club and give rowing a go. Ashley and Angel explained to Toby what it is like rowing on the Thames as a visually impaired person, the freedom rowing gives them and what they would say to encourage other blind and partially sighted people to take up the sport of rowing.To find out more about Fulham Reach Boat Club do visit their website - https://www.fulhamreachboatclub.co.ukThere is much more about the sport of rowing along with details of where to find a rowing club near you on the British Rowing website - https://www.britishrowing.org(Image shows Toby with mic, headphones and life jacket in the sunshine on the bank of the river Thames with the pontoon, Hammersmith bridge and some of the boats and rowers in the background)

The UK Government’s welfare bill passed its first vote in the Parliament on Tuesday, but what do blind and partially sighted people think of it? Hubert Pawelkiewicz spoke with Simon Hart to find out what he thought.And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINKWant to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

On Tuesday 1st of July, following a significant last-minute concession, the Welfare Reform Bill passed through its first vote in the House of Commons.But how does the blind and partially sighted community feel about the result of the vote? Robert Kirkwood spoke with Selina Mills to hear her thoughts on the matter.And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINKWant to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

On Tuesday 1st of July, following a significant last-minute concession, the Welfare Reform Bill passed through its first vote in the House of Commons. But how does the blind and partially sighted community feel about the result of the vote? We spoke with Harry Georgiou to hear what he thinks about the result of the vote. And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINK Want to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

On Tuesday 1st of July, following a significant last-minute concession, the Welfare Reform Bill passed through its first vote in the House of Commons. But how does the blind and partially sighted community feel about the result of the vote? Amelia spoke with Yahya Pandor. And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINK Want to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

Disabled people in the UK are being put under more financial pressure than ever, but what’s the true ‘price tag’? Hywel Davies has been speaking to UK charity Scope.For more information on Scop and the Disability Price Tag 2025, visit their website - Home | Disability charity Scope UK

With the first vote on the Welfare Reform Bill being passed in the Commons on Tuesday evening after some last minute major changes being made to the bill here on RNIB Connect Radio we are gathering the reactions, thoughts and comments from blind and partially sighted people with Yusuf Osman joining our Toby Davey. And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINK Want to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

Going For Independence in Saltburn By Sea are working on a new audio drama by and for blind and partially sighted people.Amelia spoke to founder, Pam Bennett, and member, Pat Grahame, to learn more.Learn more about and contact Going For Independence on their website - goingforindependence.orgImage 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.

The UK Government’s welfare bill passed its first vote in the Parliament on Tuesday, but what do blind and partially sighted people think of it? Barry Snell spoke with Dawn Hopper, who was keen to share her thoughts.And to hear RNIB's response to the bill, hear our interview with Sophie Dudgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs: LINKWant to share your thoughts on the bill? Drop us an email: [email protected] 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.

We all know that there is a lack of blind and partially sighted people in Chief Executive and senior leadership roles within the sight loss sector. Well, now the New Horizons Programme lead by RNIB, Guide Dogs and Thomas Pocklington Trust in collaboration with Hult Ashridge Executive Education, a provider of leadership and organisational development solutions will help to empower blind and partially sighted leaders with the skills and confidence to accelerate their careers and create a more diverse and inclusive leadership landscape.RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with two visually impaired leaders working in the sight loss sector, Sarah Brandt, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive at Henshaws and Alex Henderson, Education Information Manager at Thomas Pocklington Trust explain their career journey so far, why they wanted to take part in the programme and what it will mean for the sector if they and other blind and partially sighted people make it to those Chief Executive and senior leadership roles within the sector.If you are looking for information and advice around employment as a blind or partially sighted person do either call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit the employment pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/equality-and-employment/(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)