RNIB - See Sport Differently

Gavin Towers may be partially sighted but he's decided to take on a record breaking challenge and raise funds for RNIB and Save The Children.

He's going to cycle around the UK and attempt to break the decades old record at the same time as raising money.

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Gavin to learn more about the challenge and why he's chosen these charities.

Keep up to date on the challenge by going to www.gavintowerscycling.com 

You can make a donation by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=GavinTowers&pageUrl=1

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Image: Gavin on his bike

Megan Smithson-Booth is 19 years old and a student at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.

For the past 2 years, alongside her studies, she's become a rising star in Goalball, representing GB in tournaments around the UK and as far flung as Australia.

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Megan to learn more about her love of the game, her hopes for the future and why it's a great sport for people to get involved in.

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Image: Goalball UK logo

RNIB has received £1m in funding from Sport England to be used over three years to get more blind and partially sighted people involved in sport.

 

The charity is partnering up with British Blind Sport to deliver the new initiative called See Sport Differently.

 

Steven Scott has been speaking to one of the people who developed the campaign, RNIB’s Steve Packer. 

Image shows RNIB logo. RNIB written in bold capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Written underneath are the words: 'See differently'.

We've been talking a little bit about fishing lately on RNIB Connect Radio and with the weather improving we thought it could be great to bring in some experts and learn their secrets to getting that best catch.

 

Wayne Vowden from the Blind Angler channel and Joe from Essex Foraging an Fishing Channel spoke with our Paulina Kuchorew about coastal fishing and an upcoming live-stream event that will see the two go reel to reel in a big Coastal fish-off event.

Round 2 of Coastal Combat will take place Sunday 4th of July. For more information follow 'Blind Angler' and 'Essex Foraging an Fishing' on YouTube.

Image shows a pile of Coastal Combat stickers. 

Are you interested in fishing, or would like to find out a little bit more about it from a fellow blind angler?

On Sunday 7th of March at 8PM, The Blind Angler channel will hold a live Q & A event to help answer all of your burning questions, offer some advice, and chat all-things-fishing!

Wayne Vowden, the Blind Angler himself spoke with RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew about the free event and how to take part.

For more information find 'The Blind Angler' on Facebook or YouTube.

Can beatboxing and breakdancing aid accessibility? 

Rationale Arts are a charity formed in 2019 after identifying a need for art to be made equally accessible to both disabled and non-disabled members of the community. 

 

The group offers a variety of classes and workshops, from accessible dance lessons for the visually impaired, which utilise beatbox-inspired audio description, to community engagement programs. 

RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Rationale Arts artistic director Nathan Geering and trustee of the group Vignesh Murali, to find out more about the charity's work.

For more information about Sight Specific Moves Dance Course: www.rationalearts.com 

(Photo: Nathan Geering mid-breakdancing, holding himself up on one hand legs and arms spread wide/ Credit: Tim Thumb)

Measures such as social distancing have turned the world upside down for people with sight loss affecting many areas of life including sport and activity.  

But as things eventually adapt to the new normal, Birmingham Goalball Club hopes to encourage people living with a disability to keep active and give goalball a go through their Fitness for Life initiative. 

Chair of the club, Mohammed Ahmed spoke with us about the project.

For more information email: [email protected] or follow the club on twitter @bhamgoalball1

Have you ever heard of sport nunchaku?

We found out that one of RNIB Connect – South West members, Mark Perry has recently given this unique sport a go and we caught up with him to hear more. 

Mark spoke with RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew about the experience and how he manages to continue his lessons in lockdown. 

For more information about Sport Nunchaku visit: www.snuk.org.uk

(Image shows Mark and his sensei Rich. Mark is holding up a certificate and has bright yellow nunchucks around the back of his neck. Rich has his arm proudly around him)

(Part one of this discussion is available here https://audioboom.com/posts/7496669-libby-clegg-talks-dancing-on-ice)

Are you a sporting fan? Do you love catching up with Dancing on Ice every Sunday? RNIB Connect Radio's Sophie Ewing caught up with sportswoman, Libby Clegg as she competes in this year competition.

 

In the second part of their conversation Libby discusses motherhood, turning thirty, winning Gold Medals and why you should See Sport Differently in 2020.

Read all about Libby in our Connect News & Stories on the website  https://www.rnib.org.uk/connect-community/connect-news-and-stories/libby-clegg-MBE 

Are you a sporting fan? Do you love catching up with Dancing on Ice every Sunday? Perhaps you are a someone living with sight loss who has no skating experience, but would like to try something new. RNIB Connect Radio's Sophie Ewing caught up with sportswoman, Libby Clegg as she competes in this year competition.

 

Libby talks all things Dancing on Ice, taking on this challenge whilst having Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy, alongside prepping for the Tokyo Paralympics.

Read all about Libby in our Connect News & Stories on the website  https://www.rnib.org.uk/connect-community/connect-news-and-stories/libby-clegg-MBE