The charity ‘Fight For Sight’ has relaunched. Hywel Davies has been hearing about the new identity and new mission of the organisation. 

For more information on Fight For Sight, visit their website - www.fightforsight.org.uk

Image: The Fight for Sight logo which resembles an eye and the eyelid below it, with the eyelid curving upwards to reference outstretched arms.

With ancient tortoises, blue footed boobies, clambering iguanas and more, the Galapagos islands are a nature-lover's paradise. 

Join Jonathan as he encounters the wonders of the island in this week's Travelogue.

Tune in to 'The Lunch Break' on RNIB Connect Radio every weekday from 12 noon to 1pm for more Travelogues.

Image shows Jonathan Abro, a white middle-aged man holding a white cane, sat on some jagged grey rocks with two small, pink-faced monkeys close to him. One monkey is licking Jonathan's bright orange jacket and the other is perched further along on the rocks.

Remember A Charity Week runs from September 9th to the 15th and encourages us to leave a legacy in our bequests to a favourite charity.

Inheritance Tax is a 'plannable tax' that you can mitigate with some professional help. Robert Kirkwood finds out more this Remember A Charity Week.

To learn more about RNIB and how to leave a legacy, go to www.rnib.org.uk/legacy

#RNIBConnect

Image: Remember A Charity In Your Will Week logo, Three Yellow Circles with black text saying 'Remember us in your will, Help our work live on...'

Emily Annakin has just completed her studies in Architecture and Planning at the University of the West of England in Bristol with a 2:1.  Prior to starting her degree and while studying for her A-levels with all the covid restrictions at the same time Emily’s eye sight started to deteriorate and she was diagnosed with Stargardt disease which also got worse during her Architecture degree.  

For part of her final year project, Emily reimagined a section of Bristol's harbour side making it more accessible and maybe more nature friendly too.

RNIB connect Radio’s Toby Davey recently caught up with Emily to find out how starting to lose her sight during her A-levels affected her at the time, how she moved from using a pencil and paper to an iPad for her architecture and planning designs during her Foundation Year and throughout her studies for her Architecture and Planning degree. Looking at how to make open spaces more accessible to blind and partially sighted people for her degree dissertation and working with a group of visually impaired people may have given Emily the chance to in a way have time to come to terms with her own sight loss. To her plans for the future in architecture and planning now that Emily has graduated.

There is more about Stargardt disease on the following pages of the RNIB website -https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/stargardt-disease
You will also find out more about the Architecture and Planning degree at the University of the West of England by visiting the following pages of the UWE website - https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/KK14/architecture-and-planning


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

The King’s Speech took place on Wednesday 17th of July and presented the new government’s plans for the future.

But what could it mean for blind and partially sighted people across the UK?

David Hogg finds out as he speaks with Roisin Jacklin from RNIB.

For more details visit: 2023 King’s Speech: What we did and didn’t hear | RNIB

Image: RNIB logo. A white square with 'RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined by a bold pink line.

Did you, or someone you know, vote in the recent UK General Election and want to feedback on your experience as a blind or partially sighted person? 

RNIB wants to hear about your experience, good or bad. 

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Cate Vallis, from the charity, to hear more about the Turned Out Survey and how the charity is engaging with the new look House of Commons. 

To find out more about the survey, go to www.rnib.org.uk or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999. 

#RNIBConnect 
Image Shows RNIB Logo

It’s that time of the week where we catch up with the RNIB social media team to find out what there is to know in general and in the blind and partially sighted community.

Do you fancy setting yourself a challenge for 2025, maybe running the London Marathon? Well, you could do it for Team RNIB!

Hubert has been finding out how you can get involved and also speaking to Lauryn who not only took part this year, but is also planning on running in the event in 2025.

Find out more here: RNIB London Marathon 2025 | RNIB

Image: RNIB logo. A white square with 'RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined by a bold pink line.

Sight Village exhibitions are a great place to find new technology and services for blind and partially sighted people. Dave Williams went along to Sight Village Central to meet some of the exhibitors.

You can find out more information on the Mini Guide from Seeing Solutions on their website - MiniGuide (pamtrad.co.uk)

What are the highs and lows of looking for love as a blind or partially sighted person?

We brought together Leo Johnson, Karen Wye and Sarah Stephenson-Hunter to hear their experiences of dating as blind and partially sighted people.

Listen to Karen on Hope FM, South Coast Hits and Radio Wimborne.
Hope FM website - Karen Wye – Hope FM
South Coast Hits Radio website - Karen Wye | southcoasthitsradio (studio5062.wixsite.com)
Radio Wimborne website - The TeamRadio Wimborne | Radio Wimborne

Learn more about Sarah on the Simply Equality Website - https://simplyequality.com/

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. 

 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 charity's post General Election work and another award for a major RNIB campaign. 

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 also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline. 

#RNIBConnect 
Image Shows  Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB 

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.

A bit more Shakespeare this week with a musical riff on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ set during the declassification of Area 51 with ‘Dreamland’ by Birmingham Musicals Youth Theatre who offer term time weekly theatre workshops for young people aged between 7-16.

‘Dreamland’ is the group’s end of year production which was audio described on Saturday 6 July 2024 at 7pm in the Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio by Professional Audio Describer Caroline Burn as one of the performers is visually impaired.

For more about access at the Birmingham Hippodrome including details of audio described performances do visit the access pages of their website - https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/plan-your-visit/access/

To find out more about Birmingham Hippodrome Musicals Youth Theatre group do visit the following pages of their website - https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/hippodrome-projects/young-people/musicals-youth-theatre/


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell talks with Anne Hornsby from MindsEye Description. 

Audio Description makes television, movies, galleries  and other arts venues accessible and enjoyable for blind and partially sighted people. 

AD is a narration describing what is physically happening, say on stage, TV or the big screen. 

It can also describe works of art, places of interest or exhibits. 

This month they discuss events at the London Natural History Museum, A Milton Keynes highlight and a Wonderland walk… 

If you'd like more information on audio described events, go to www.mindseyedescription.co.uk 

#RNIBConnect 
Image Shows   Anne Hornsby from MindsEye Description, Studio Recording  

Remember A Charity Week runs from September 9th to the 15th and encourages us to leave a legacy in our bequests to a favourite charity.

Did you know that leaving a legacy to a charity in your will can help them plan for the future and support their customers through a variety of tailored services?

Allan Russell has been talking to Lucinda Frostick about Remember A Charity Week which looks at some very important questions about writing a will and leaving a legacy…

To learn more about RNIB and how to leave a legacy, go to www.rnib.org.uk/legacy

#RNIBConnect

Image: Remember A Charity In Your Will Week logo, Three Yellow Circles with black text saying 'Remember us in your will, Help our work live on...'

Following on from our recent interview with Dr Heather Smith, Access and Equality Specialist at the National Trust who gave a more general look at access across the whole of the Trust for blind and partially sighted people, this time RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined by Ben Vleminckx, National Trust South West Project Manager – Everyone Welcome and Access for a more close up picture on how the Trust in the south west of England are welcoming and providing a range of access services for blind and partially sighted people.

The National Trust who protect and look after hundreds of historic buildings, gardens and precious collections, miles of coastline, woodlands and the countryside, have and continue to provide access to their properties, sites and locations for blind and partially sighted people.

If you would like to find out more about access at one of the National Trust locations near you or just more about access generally then do email accessforall@nationaltrust.org.uk or visit the following Access for Everyone pages of the National Trust website - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us/access-for-everyone

And if you have any comments or feedback about a recent visit to a National Trust property or site within the south west of England do email Ben via ben.vleminckx@nationaltrust.org.uk with how the experience was for you as a blind or partially sighted person. 



(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Sight Village exhibitions are a great place to find new technology and services for blind and partially sighted people. Dave Williams went along to Sight Village Central to meet some of the exhibitors.

You can find more information on OrCam visit their website - Experience the Power of Assistive Technology with OrCam's AI Devices

Sight Village exhibitions are a great place to find new technology and services for blind and partially sighted people. Dave Williams went along to Sight Village Central to meet some of the exhibitors.

You can find more information on Orbit Research visit their website - Orbit Research

How can the experience of going to sporting events be improved for disabled people in Wales? That’s the question that the charity ‘Level Playing Field’ will be asking in Cardiff this month, as Hywel Davies has been finding out.

Read more about the work to make the match day experience more accessible: Making the match day experience accessible for spectators with sight loss | RNIB | RNIB

Image: Level Playing Field logo, white text on a green background reads 'Level Playing Field'. Green text underneath reads 'For disabled sports fans'.

Sight Village exhibitions are a great place to find new technology and services for blind and partially sighted people. Dave Williams went along to Sight Village Central in Birmingham where he caught up with Ravenscourt Independent Living Products.

Find more information on their website - Ravencourt Living - Visual Impairment

Blind comedian Jamie MacDonald is turning his attention to the Master Chef kitchen this August and he spoke to RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell about the challenge and his latest stand up comedy work. 

For more information about Jamie, go to www.jamiemacdonaldcomedian.com 

#RNIBConnect 

Image has Jamie showing off his MasterChef apron which he's wearing over a black t-shirt. He's posing inside the iconic studio-kitchen with the big blue and silver MasterChef logo embossed in the wall behind him. (Image credit: MasterChef)

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:

Have you had sight loss for four years or less? 
Help the RNIB learn more about your experiences with travel and technology. 
The RNIB is working on a large-scale project called ‘Travel Well with Tech’ which covers many different areas of work. The ambition of this project is to enable more blind and partially sighted people to make the journeys they want, when they want, where they want and how they want. We know that for any solutions to work, we need to understand the challenges that face different groups of blind and partially sighted people. For this particular piece of work the RNIB is looking for volunteers who are aged 21 – 64 and have been fully sighted to sight impaired or severely sight impaired in the last 4 years.
Getting involved in this piece of work will mean you would be taking part in 3 or 4 meetings from August to December (dates to be arranged) with RNIB staff as well as other blind and partially sighted people, helping us understand how you are adapting to your sight loss in terms of how you use technology to travel on public transport, or on foot.
You can join the meetings by computer, laptop, mobile phone or landline and we would support you to do this. To find out more please email dawn.slater@rnib.org.uk quoting ‘customer group’ and adding your name and email. Please also include your sight condition, when you were diagnosed and your age. 

Help the RNIB improve the support your child receives for their vision.
Do you have a child with visual impairment? Have you accessed services to support them? Have they ever had a low vision assessment? If so, this survey is for you. 
We know services to support children with their sight loss are patchy depending on where you live. We want to improve and standardise them so that children can access the support that they need - at the time they need it. To do that we need evidence, which is where you can help us. We’d really appreciate you taking the time to complete our survey so we can understand your experiences, good and bad. The survey could take up to 45 minutes to complete as we want you to give us as much information as possible.
If you are interested in taking part in the survey, please send an email to involvement@rnib.org.uk and you will receive a link to the survey. 

Online focus group - independence and essential life skills
The RNIB is inviting blind and partially sighted individuals to participate in an 
online focus group discussing independence and essential life skills. The focus group will explore some concepts of an independent life and what skills and capabilities are important in achieving independence as a blind or partially sighted person. Your insights will help develop a capabilities framework which can be used by both organisations and individuals to boost personal development and independence.
 The focus groups will be taking place on: 

• Tuesday, 30 July, 10am – 12pm
• And Thursday, 8 August, 10am – 12pm

You only need to take part in one session. 
Share your experiences and perspectives in a supportive setting via Microsoft Teams. To join or for more information, email  hannah.donnelly@rnib.org.uk. 

To find out more about these and other Connect Voices opportunities along with how you can get involved with RNIB Connect Voices do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/connect-community/connect-voices-network/connect-voices-current-opportunities


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

It’s time for our weekly social media update as Hubert catches up with RNIB’s social media team.

Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. A white square with 'RNIB' written in bold black capital letters, underlined with a bold pink line and beneath 'Connect Radio' is written in a smaller black font.

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 working with a new UK Government and a very special celebrity visitor to the charity's HQ.

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 also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

Image: Matt sitting outside surrounded by greenery and smiling. He has dark short hair with specs of grey through it and is wearing slim-rimmed glasses. He has a dark blazer on over a light blue shirt with the top buttons undone. 

Now that the fields of Worthy farm in Pilton, Somerset are being returned to the home of Sir Michael Evis’ cows following on from the 200,000 or so festival goers who camped out on the fields for Glastonbury 2024, you might be wondering how accessible the Glastonbury experience might be for someone who is blind or partially sighted?

Zoe Partington a visually impaired contemporary Artist and Access Consultant who attended Glastonbury for the first time this year tells RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey all about how accessible Glasto was for a blind or partially sighted person along with how Zoe got involved in helping out with organising a team of Visual Guides to help visually impaired fans get around the Glasto site which is almost the size of a small Town. 

Zoe also chats with Toby about the accessible camp site and the facilities that are there for disabled people, the great help that was on offer to visually impaired fans from the visual guides, the audio description of some of the art work on display and performances at Glasto plus a couple of highlights for Zoe from the art work on display and the headline performance by Paloma Faith on Friday night.

To find out more about access at Glastonbury do email - accessibility@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Details about Glastonbury 2025 will be posted up on the festival website when they are announced - https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk



(Image shows The Pyramid stage at Glastonbury as Squeeze performed in the background. Zoe Partington partially blind wearing the white T-shirt with Glastonbury Visual guide written across it, in a cowboy hat in reference to Shania Twain performing later with Wyndham James one of her and the 4 Visual guides for the new team that Glastonbury required in 2024.

Remember A Charity Week runs from September 9th to the 15th and encourages us to leave a legacy in our bequests to a favourite charity.

As we chat about the importance of writing a will this Remember A Charity Week, our Paulina hears about some weird and wonderful gifts which were left in wills.

She spoke with RNIB's Senior Legacy Income Manager, Daniel Pepper.

To learn more about RNIB and how to leave a legacy, go to www.rnib.org.uk/legacy

#RNIBConnect

Image: Remember A Charity In Your Will Week logo, Three Yellow Circles with black text saying 'Remember us in your will, Help our work live on...'

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 in Stratford-upon-Avon for a fresh new production of Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.

About The Merry Wives of Windsor:

‘Revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.’
 
Curtains are twitching and tongues are wagging in this fresh new production of Shakespeare’s suburban comedy. When an out-of-pocket schemer arrives among the lawns and herbaceous borders of Windsor, he sets about seducing two well-to-do married women. It’s the perfect hustle. Surely one of them will fall for his irresistible charms? But in this neighbourhood, wives talk. And they’re about to play some tricks of their own...
 
Lies! Jealousy! Dirty laundry! The Merry Wives of Windsor is an uproarious tale of mischief and double-dealing where the women get the last laugh. What goes on at Number 22 is absolutely everybody’s business.
 
Blanche McIntyre (The Two Noble Kinsmen, All’s Well That Ends Well for the RSC, Arabian Nights at Bristol Old Vic) returns to direct The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

There will be another audio described performance of this summer belter of a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday 30 August at 7.15pm and for more about access at the royal Shakespeare Company including details of described performances do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Joining us now to talk about her experience of voting in this year’s UK General Election is Kerrie Campbell.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and Paulina has been speaking with RNIB to find out how this will impact the charity’s campaigning work and what their next steps are for ensuring the new Government remembers its blind and partially sighted constituents.

Find the Turned Out survey here: rnib.in/TOGE24

To call RNIB Helpline: 0303 123 9999

Image Shows RNIB Logo, white Background with 'RNIB' In Bold Black Letters with a Solid Pink Line Below

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Joining us now to talk about her experience of voting in this year’s UK General Election is Stacy Scott.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Joining us to talk about his experience of voting in this year’s UK General Election is Angus Huntley.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Joining us now from Northern Ireland is Alec Patterson.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Joining us now to talk about his experience of voting in this year’s UK General Election is Gary Moritz from England.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

The UK General Election took place yesterday 4th of July and today we’re hearing from blind and partially sighted people about their experience of casting a vote.

Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Elin Williams, a Welsh-born writer, influencer and author of award-winning blog My Blurred World, about her experience.

Tell us about your experience on voting in the General Election here: rnib.in/TOGE24

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. 

Now our David Hogg finds out about a challenge taking place later this month…

There’s always something new in the RNIB Products For Life Store. Dave Williams has been finding out about some very special discounts that are currently available.

For more information on each of the products mentioned, visit the RNIB Online shop - RNIB Online Shop

As we celebrate braille turning 200-years-old, the system of raised dots continues to enable blind and partially sighted people to read and write.

Talking with our Paulina Kuchorew about her love of reading and how she uses braille in her daily life is 15-year-old Keira Mills.

Image shows a square with three stripes. From top to bottom: pink stripe with 'Braille 200' written in white text, black stripe with an image depiction of the same text in white braille dots, and final white stripe with 'Powered by' written in black text and the RNIB and EBU logos beneath that.

Now, our David Hogg hears about the result of the LENS Trial which was which was looking at slowing progression of eye disease in people with diabetes.

What happens when your sight loss starts to impact your work? Our David Hogg spoke to John and Kenny from Veolia UK and Heather Barbara, an Employment Advisor from RNIB to find out…

What's been big on Social Media this week?

Holly Tuke from the RNIB Social Media Team joins Amelia to talk inaccessible platform updates, Glastonbury, and how to write great alt. text for your summer outfits.

Visit the RNIB Website for more information on making your posts accessible - How to make your social media accessible | RNIB

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. 

What is the accessibility like for gigs at stadiums. Our David Hogg spoke to Katrina Thomson who recently attended Pink’s show at Hampden in Glasgow…

The Blind Adventurer Dean Dunbar is back with a big win.

He told Amelia about the competition, his new proneboard and cycling with his guide dog.

Keep up with Dean's adventures via his website extremedreams.co.uk and by searching for 'Dean Dunbar Blind and Dangerous' on Facebook.

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.

With the general election fast approaching, Hywel Davies has been hearing about accessible voting from RNIB Cymru.

You can find out more on accessible voting in Wales here; RNIB Cymru: make voting accessible once and for all | RNIB

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, stepping in for Matt is Vivienne Francis, RNIB Chief Social Change Officer to chat about a new advertising award at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity which celebrates accessibility, plus RNIB's call for an accessible voting process for blind and partially sighted people in the UK. 

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 also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline.
#RNIBConnect

Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background RNIB in Bold Black Letters with a Solid Pink Line Below.

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 involved in and ask for your input to bring positive change to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, throughout the UK. 

This month the team are discussing the forthcoming UK General Election and an ask for your help, ahead of July 4th 2024. 

If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved, email campaigns@rnib.org.uk 

Visit rnib.org.uk/news or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 

If you like your socials, follow @RNIB_Campaigns on Twitter for campaign specific updates. 

#RNIBConnect 

Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background with RNIB In Bold Black Letters with a Solid Pink Line Below

Blind and partially deaf traveller and writer Tony Giles has visited over 133 countries from the UN list of 193.

He told Amelia about the highlights and challenges of his travels, writing his novels and tips for other VI travellers.

Learn more about Tony and get updates on his travels on his website https://www.tonythetraveller.com/
Find his first book 'Seeing the world my way: a totally blind and partially deaf guy's global adventures' on the RNIB Talking Books Library.
Find his other eBooks, 'Seeing The Americas My Way' and 'Seeing a Slice of Southern Africa My Way' on Amazon and Apple Books.

Image shows: Tony feeding an alpaca some green vegetation at Awanacancha alpaca farm, a weaving centre and farm near Puka Pukara village and ruins. This is a cultural project that is presented as a living museum of the Andes. Various single storey village or farm buildings can be seen in the background. Other members of Tony’s group can also be seen feeding alpacas.

Gary Hogan was working in the RAF when he began to notice changes in his sight. 

He told Amelia about changing career after sight loss, lockdown challenges and finding a love of chess which took him to IBCA World Individual Chess Championship.

If you want to learn more about the BCA go to braillechess.org.uk

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. 

With this week being Remember a Charity Week (9-15 September 2024) here on RNIB Connect Radio we are finding out a bit more about why people might want to leave a gift in their will to the RNIB. 

Paul Goddard a visually impaired RNIB Volunteer explains to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about why he wanted to leave a gift in his will to the RNIB.  

Paul also explains to Toby about how the RNIB has helped him throughout his life, a bit about being a Volunteer for the RNIB and how it makes him feel knowing that he will be helping other blind and partially sighted people by supporting the work of the RNIB not only as a Volunteer but by leaving a gift in his will.

If like Paul you would like to support the work of the RNIB by leaving a gift in your will or through other ways of supporting the RNIB you can find out more by visiting the legacy pages of the RNIB website and easy it is to set up and leave a gift in your will like Paul has done for the RNIB. - https://www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/gifts-in-wills/


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Zonic is an EDM musician with sight loss. David Hogg spoke to them about sight loss, love of video game music and how that inspires the music they make.

The issue of guide dogs and air travel has been in the news recently, Hubert has been speaking to Mar about his experience, together with Samantha from RNIB’s legal team who talks about the legal side of the story.

The Department for Work and Pensions are making changes to welfare payments and if you're of pension age and in receipt of tax credits, there are changes on the way. 

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Dominic Milne, from RNIB's Legal Rights Service, to find out what you need to do, if you fall into this category. 

If you'd like advice around DWP welfare payments, call RNIB's Helpline on 0303 123 9999. 

#RNIBConnect 

Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background RNIB in Bold Black Letters with a Solid Pink Line Below