RNIB Connect

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Simon Antrobus, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Simon talks about a celebrity panel on talking books, launching a new Eye Care Liaison Officer service and an award for one of our staff members.

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 Smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.
#RNIBConnect
 
Image a headshot photograph of Simon Antrobus smiling for the camera. He is a white man with neat, short brown hair, dressed in a white shirt and charcoal suit jacket.

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 another audio described theatre review.

This week we have the current tour of the West End stage production of the 1957 film ‘Twelve Angry Men’ visited the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.

About ’Twelve Angry Men’

A life in the balance. Twelve men. One verdict.

Following record-breaking West End seasons, this powerful production of Twelve Angry Men is back in session! Twelve Angry Men has been hailed ‘the classiest, most intelligent drama playing in the West End’. It brings the 1957 three-time Academy Award nominated film, considered one of the great ‘must-sees’ of all time, to the stage.

A jury has murder on their minds and a life in their hands as they decide the fate of a young delinquent accused of killing his father. But what appears to be an open and shut case soon becomes a huge dilemma, as prejudices and preconceived ideas about the accused, the trial, and each other turn the tables every which way, until the nail-biting climax….

Reginald Rose’s gripping courtroom thriller stars Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street, Peak Practice), Bill Ward (Emmerdale, Coronation Street), Ricky Norwood (EastEnders), Tristan Gemmill (Casualty, Coronation Street) and Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier).

Now it’s your turn to witness a ‘BRILLIANT’, ‘RIVETING’, ‘TRIUMPH’ of a show.

For more about the current tour of ‘Twelve Angry Men’ including details of audio described performances near you do visit -https://www.kenwright.com/productions/twelve-angry-men-2026-27-uk-tour/

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For our regular browse through the RNIB online shop here on RNIB Connect Radio this time our Toby Davey is joined by Claire Maxwell, RNIB Shop’s Buyer, to highlight some great lighting options including desk lights, floor lamps and head torches that are currently discounted through the shop’s lighting sale.

Also for anyone who wants to get hands on with a number of HumanWare Braille displays there is a drop-in event on Monday 19 October 2026 from 10am to 12noon at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London where you could get lucky and be in the running to come away with a Brailliant Braille display.

For more about those highlighted lighting products plus many other great products that you will find in the RNIB online shop do visit - https://shop.rnib.org.uk/connect

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RNIB’s Let’s Play is a sensory‑play guide designed to help parents, carers and professionals create fun, accessible play experiences for blind and partially sighted children.

Barry Snell caught up with RNIB’s Education and Children Information Resources Officer Tom Norton, to find out more.

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Paralympic Champion Lizzi Jordan is campaigning to have VAT removed from Tandem bikes.
Amelia learned more about the Tax free tandems campaign…

Learn more on the British Cycling webiste - Tax Free Tandems

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.

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Simon Antrobus, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Simon talks about RNIB’s Accessible Streets campaign, pavement parking, and enhanced audio commentary on Premier League football.

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 Smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect
 
Image a headshot photograph of Simon Antrobus smiling for the camera. He is a white man with neat, short brown hair, dressed in a white shirt and charcoal suit jacket.

On 2 November 2026 the first Global summit for Eye Health will bring senior leaders from governments, private and public sectors, NGO’s and funding institutions from across the world together to help to reach the 1 billion people living with avoidable sight loss and accelerate the progress towards universal eye health coverage too.

The summit is being hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and supported by the international Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Peter Holland, Chief executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to find out more about the first Global Summit for Eye Health, the themes and topics that will be discussed, what policies or statements might be launched on the day plus how the outcomes and recommendations from the summit will help to reach the 1 billion people living with avoidable sight loss and make the world see the value of vision.

To find out more about the first Global Summit for Eye Health and follow the summit on the day too do visit - https://globalsummitforeyehealth.org

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Have you been receiving healthcare information in accessible formats? 

RNIB want to hear about your experiences in their new survey - Amelia spoke to Khadija Raza, Policy Lead: Accessibility, to learn more. 

Fill out the survey here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DDTYQVJ
Or complete it over the phone by calling 0303 123 9999 anytime from 9am-6pm
Email [email protected] for more information.

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This World Sight Day we’ve been hearing about how one local sight loss charity will be marking the day with fundraising activities. Hywel Davies has been finding out more.

Visit the MyVision Oxfordshire website for more details on how you can take part in fundraising activities - Host a World Sight Day Coffee Morning for 2026