On the Happy Hour this week, we talk with university student Aliza Rehman.

Aliza shares her tips for students going through mainstream school as well as some advice to parents and teachers supporting a young blind and partially sighted pupil.

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This week on the Happy Hour we focus on communicating with ourselves and fostering a good relationship with our Self.

And joining us for another off the mat chat, it’s Dawn Blezard from Pathway Yoga. 

You can find out more about Dawn by searching for "Pathway Yoga with Dawn" on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

Image shows a birds eye view photo shows Dawn holding a pose on her black yoga matt. Her legs are crossed and she holds onto her toes on either side of her body as she looks up at the camera. She has blonde hair set in two French braids and is wearing a lilac long sleeve top with patterned leggings. The yoga matt is black with high contract purple alignment lines, which are designed to help align your body and improve posture during yoga poses.

Paulina heads into the kitchen to try recipe for a little sweet treat that you can make in your air fryer.

Recipe used: 7-Minute Air Fryer Cookies - The Big Man's World ®

Paulina's notes: Depending on how many chocolate chunks you add you might need extra time to cook. She found that 10 minutes was the ideal time for her dual-basket air fryer.

Image shows some a plate of chocolate chip cookies. They're golden brown, with visible chocolate chunks and slightly irregular in shape but no less delicious. Yum!

New research has revealed that parents are losing sleep on average 182 nights a year due to children aged six and over struggling to drift off. 

In fact, 65% of parents say that their child has trouble sleeping, with noticable changes in their child's mood, focus, and behaviour.

Joining us to talk more about the research and how we can create that calm, healthy routine for our children is broadcaster, author, and mum of two, Katie Piper.

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You’re listening to the Happy Hour on RNIB Connect Radio.

We’re talking heart health today as we learn about a collaboration between RNIB and the British Heart Foundation.

Supported in partnership by Royal Mail, this collaboration lead to the production of accessible copies of “High Blood Pressure” booklets.

Joining us on the Happy Hour us more is Robin Spinks, Head of Inclusive Design at RNIB.

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Joining us on the Happy Hour to chat about his passion for watercolours and some fascinating projects he's been working on is Scott Boyle.

Scott lost part of his vision over three years ago and turned to arts and crafts.

Image shows Scott holding up one of his watercolours. The small piece of cream paper has an elongated oval shape drawn representing the circle Subway line in Glasgow. a Swirl of colours fills the image and a crowd of heads without eyes and noses and mouths agape fills the right side of the image. The mix of colours on the image is Prussian Blue, Cadmium yellow, and Burnt Sienna. The image represents the route from Bridge Street to St Enoch. 

On The Happy Hour this week, we continue our conversation about breaking bad habits and behaviours in our lives.

For this month's Off The Mat Chat, yoga teacher Dawn Blezard returns to talk more about why it can be hard to change our habits and what we can do to help.

You can find out more about Dawn by searching for "Pathway Yoga with Dawn" on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

Heart Part 1 of this conversation here: The Happy Hour / Why Is It Hard To Break Bad Habits - Part 1?

Image shows a birds eye view photo shows Dawn holding a pose on her black yoga matt. Her legs are crossed and she holds onto her toes on either side of her body as she looks up at the camera. She has blonde hair set in two French braids and is wearing a lilac long sleeve top with patterned leggings. The yoga matt is black with high contract purple alignment lines, which are designed to help align your body and improve posture during yoga poses.

The Wythall and Hollywood Fun Run took place earlier this summer, but did you know that this year’s event made sure to be not just fun but also inclusive to blind and partially sighted attendees?

Event organisers, Wythall Community Association, Events of the North and Worcestershire County Council, worked with local charity Sensory Matters Worcestershire to ensure the run was accessible to visually impaired participants.

Joining us on the Happy Hour are Millie Hayter and Alice Linforth from Sensory Matters Worcestershire.

A big shout out to Sensory Matters Worcestershire volunteers who support the work of the charity. If you'd like to get involved visit: Sensory Matters - Sight Concern

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Margaret Cusker, won her first national blind bowls competition in 1996, and now, almost 30 years on, she’s preparing to finish on a high by playing for England in the 2027 International Blind Bowls Association Championships in New Zealand.

Margaret joined us on the Happy Hour, together with Willy Goldschmidt, organiser of the Hillmorton Social Club, one of the local social clubs for visually impaired people that Margaret is a member of.

You can find the fundraising page here: Donation - Margaret Cusker Bowling for England

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We love hearing about your passions and hobbies on the Happy Hour!

This week, we're joined by James Kyle, who discovered a new passion after receiving an unusual Christmas gift.

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