We were very excited here at RNIB Connect Radio when it was announced that blind Liverpudlian comedian Chris McCausland would be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year following on from the introduction of live audio description for the Saturday night live shows last year by Georgie from RedBee Media for all us blind and partially sighted Strictly fans.

With many blind and partially sighted people taking up dancing and some even taking to the dance floor of the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, in the first of what will be regular weekly features on how Chris McCausland and his Professional Dancer Dianne Buswell are doing on Strictly Come Dancing RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined by Shaun Hayward a blind ballroom dancer who has competed in Blackpool to not only find out how Shaun got in to ballroom dancing but also to reflect and review on how Chris and Dianne have been doing so far in the competition. 

Shaun will also be sharing some helpful hints and tips as Chris and Dianne perform a Salsa to Down Under by Men at Work this coming Saturday 12 October 2024.

To follow how Chris and Dianne are progressing through Strictly Come Dancing 2024 along with how all the other dance couples are fairing in the competition, do visit the following Strictly page of the BBC website - 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/strictly

(Image shows Shaun in a recording studio with microphones behind him in front of a colourful drape holding a plaque with medals on in each hand)

The Eye Care Support Pathway is a collaborative work from RNIB and partners within the sight loss and health sector.

It’s goal is to create a system that supports everyone who is diagnosed with a sight loss condition in a timely and holistic manner.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell found out more about its goals and launch.

If you’d like to find out more about the support available to anyone going through the sight loss journey, go to www.rnib.org.uk and look for Eye Care Support Pathway.

You can also call RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

#RNIBConnect

Image Shows An Eye Chart with A Pair of Glasses On Top

To mark World Sight Day (10th October 2024), Percussion Play, the leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor musical instruments, has been working with the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) and The Amber Trust to understand how music-making outside can be made more accessible for young people who are blind, have low vision, or are partially sighted. This research aims to make play areas around the world more accessible and safer.  

The research entailed Percussion Play holding two events at the RSBC’s Life Without Limits Centre in London with group and individual-focused musical workshops and instrument demonstrations for blind and visually impaired children and adolescents in the UK.  

Percussion Play also invited the RSBC to its headquarters in Hampshire. The sessions were designed to garner feedback on the design of the instruments with the aim of making them more accessible and user-friendly for blind, low vision and partially sighted users. Instruments included Percussion Play’s uniquely designed drums, xylophones, bells and chimes.  

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Julie Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Society for Blind Children to find out more about how the collaboration came about, reflecting on the workshops, talking about the work that went in to the publication of the white paper ‘The Sounds of Progress’ and the importance of accessible play areas for young visually impaired people. 

To read the white paper ‘The Sounds of Progress’ and to find out more about the Royal Society for Blind Children do visit their website - https://www.rsbc.org.uk

(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)

RNIB’s Visibly Better Employer Standard helps companies of any size to make their workplace better for blind or partially sighted employees. Hywel Davies has been speaking to one of the latest organisations to meet the standard, ‘Babylon Arts’ in East Cambridgeshire.

For more information on Babylon Arts, visit their website - Welcome to Babylon Arts

10th of October marks World Mental Health Day, and this year, we’d like to suggest one actionable thing that you can do to improve your wellbeing. Digital detox.

But how do you do it, why is it important, and what benefits will it bring to your mental health and daily life? 

Here’s Paulina with a couple book titles from the RNIB Library that you can check out to learn how to do a digital detox.

if you fancy checking out one or both of these titles, you can do so through the RNIB Library. Just visit Home - Reading Services (rnib.org.uk) and sign up for your free account.

Image: RNIB Library logo. A white square with 'RNIB' written in bold black capital letters, underlined with a bold pink line and 'Library' written in a smaller font size bellow.

Jonathan Abro visits some of the worlds most beautiful sculptures and artworks around the world, from the works of Matisse to St Paul's Cathedral.

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

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. 

Our David Hogg catches up with intern Jake Coles about his experience working with Real Thing AI so far… 

Now time to catch up with Bernie Warren, who set up a support group for people living with the same eye condition as her as well as taking over another support group. She did not know anyone else who had the same eye condition as her when she first began to lose her sight. Jennifer Murray, Trainee Content Producer finds out more.

If you would like to learn more about the supporg groups or contact Bernie Warren, you can do any of the following:

Contact the DMO Group via the Macular Society or to make general enquiries. The Macular Society will be happy to put you in direct contact with Bernie Warren.

Macular Society's website:

Beating Macular Disease - Macular Society

Image 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.

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 attendance at the Political Party Conferences, working with the likes of Lego, Curry’s and Tesco, and his forthcoming appearance at the UK Covid Inquiry.

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

October is Free Wills Month, Hywel Davies has been finding out about the importance of having a valid will, along with the impact that legacy gifts make to RNIB.

For more information on how to leave a legacy gift to RNIB in your will, visit the website - Leaving a gift to RNIB in your Will | RNIB | RNIB