RNIB Connect

On Wednesday 17 June 2026 in the Thames Pavilion at the House of Commons Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea hosted an event that brought together people from across the sight loss sector and Eye Care Health service to launch a new training package sponsored by the RNIB, hosted on the Royal College of Ophthalmologist's’ Inspire platform for Clinicians working within Eye health to raise awareness around the importance of emotional support at the point of diagnosis.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there for the launch event and caught up with Professor Tariq Aslam who was very much involved in the development of the training package. 

(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

On Wednesday 17 June 2026 in the Thames Pavilion at the House of Commons Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea hosted an event that brought together people from across the sight loss sector and Eye Care Health service to launch a new training package sponsored by the RNIB, hosted on the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Inspire platform for Clinicians working within Eye health to raise awareness around the importance of emotional support at the point of diagnosis.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there for the launch event and caught up with Amanda Hawkins, RNIB Head of Mental Health and Counselling. 

Image shows Amanda delivers a speech at a podium. Hands raised in front of her chest, she's speaking passionately.

On Wednesday 17 June 2026 in the Thames Pavilion at the House of Commons Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea hosted an event that brought together people from across the sight loss sector and Eye Care Health service to launch a new training package sponsored by the RNIB, hosted on the Royal College of Ophthalmologist's’ Inspire platform for Clinicians working within Eye health to raise awareness around the importance of emotional support at the point of diagnosis.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there for the launch event and caught up with Mohamed Elalfy, President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

Join Jonathan on a beautiful train ride through Italy, arriving into the snowy mountains of Switzerland.

Listen to Travelogues every Wednesday on The Lunch Break from 12 noon to 1 pm.

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. 

Join Jonathan as he takes a £2 flight to Milan and starts a mountainous train journey into Italy.

Listen to Travelogues every Wednesday on The Lunch Break from 12 noon to 1 pm.

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. 

This time for our regular browse through the RNIB online shop with Charlee Jarvis, RNIB Shop’s Buying Administrator W\we are looking at the Tonies range of products that have just been added to the shop including the Toniebox 2 audio player and Tonies audio figurines.

Designed for ages 1-9+. Through the Toniebox 2 children can play their favourite stories and songs by placing a tactile, magnetic Tonie character on top of the box. Tap the box to skip a song or chapter, tilt it to fast-forward or rewind, and squeeze the ears of the box to adjust the volume. No screens, no ads – just safe, accessible, independent reading.

For more about the Toniebox 2 Player, the Tonies range of products and many others that you will find in the RNIB online shop do visit - https://shop.rnib.org.uk/connect

(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

Extant, the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of blind and visually impaired artists, will return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer building on the success of its landmark 2025 programme. 

The company will present three Enhance shows alongside a new showcase, in partnership with Underbelly as principal venue partner on 18th August celebrating a number of the most exciting visually impaired-led performances including stand-up, cabaret, dance, theatre and new writing. 

Amelia Cavallo who will be presenting ‘An Evening with Tito Bone’ as part of the extant showcase gives RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey a bit about her background as a visually impaired Artist and more about ‘An Evening with Tito Bone’ as well as what people can expect from the Extant showcase at underbelly on 18 August 2026. 

To find out more about the Extant Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 programme including the three enhance shows and the showcase at Underbelly on 18 August 2026 do visit the company’s website - https://extant.org.uk

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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 the board of trustees visit to Edinburgh, tactile platform markers at Scottish train stations and why Kate Winslet spoke about an audio description problem in Northern Ireland.

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.

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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.

We have a musical comedy made from the finest ingredients this week as the current tour of ‘Waitress’ visited the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Nicola Williams. 

About ‘Waitress’

The five-star musical returns, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher

“Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie” (The Times) with Carrie Hope Fletcher (Calamity Jane, Heathers, The Addams Family) as Jenna and Les Dennis as Old Joe for one week only! They’ll be joined by Sandra Marvin as Becky and Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn.

Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.

Brought to life by a ground-breaking, female-led creative team, this ‘warm, witty, wise and hilarious’ (Express) hit features ‘one of the best scores in years’ (The Stage) by the Grammy award-winning Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave) a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony® Award-winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland).

Having received standing ovations night after night in London’s West End and on Broadway, Waitress is ‘the real deal’ (Independent) musical comedy’.

For more about the current tour of ‘Waitress’ and details of performances near you do visit the production website - https://waitressthemusical.co.uk

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Have you ever thought of joining and singing in a choir as a blind or partially sighted person but wondered how accommodating the choir might be for you as a visually impaired singer?

Well, RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey recently caught up with blind Author and Broadcaster Selina Mills along with Jack Apperley, Conductor of the Goldsmiths Choral Union, as the choir were rehearsing for their up-coming ‘Poetry in Motion’ concert at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London on Tuesday 16 June at 7.30pm featuring work by blind Jazz Composer George Shearing to find out how things have been for Selina singing with the choir and for Jack what it has been like working with a visually impaired singer too. 

To find out more about the Goldsmiths Choral Union and the ‘Poetry in Motion’ concert at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London, Tuesday 16 June at 7.30pm do visit the choir’s website - https://www.goldsmithschoralunion.org

(Image shows a black and white photograph of the Goldsmiths Choral Union on stage with orchestra and Conductor Jack standing and facing out towards the audience)