Rnib Conversations

Barry Snell chats to Brandon Hulcoop, the owner of All Things Dotty, who specialise in braille art and who's aim is to make the the world a better place for for visually impaired people. Having previously spoken in 2021, Brandon chat's about the growth of the business, having a new partner, plus exciting plans for the future. Find out more about All Things Dotty #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Logo in black typeface against a white background. There is a pink line separating RNIB and Connect Radio.

With the warmer weather we have been experiencing recently there seems to be a lot more wasps and bees about, so for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about insect bites and how best to treat and deal with them.  Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey what the difference is between a bee and a wasp sting and how best to treat them.  Then on to why some people have a very severe reaction to stings and the types of treatment available for those people who do have a bad reaction to a sting. Finally to tick bites as they do seem to be in the news a lot at the moment, with Elizabeth explaining what they are and how best to deal with a tick bite. There is more information about insect bites on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/ To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showi

Following on from the last check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick where we talked about what services are now on offer at your local community Pharmacy for this week’s  check in it is all about the eye problems that you can go to your Pharmacist with. Elizabeth began by telling our Toby Davey about a stye, what it is and how you might treat a stye, to then chatting about conjunctivitis and red eye. Elizabeth ended with some general advice around eye problems and why it is always important to visit your Opticians if you have issues with your eyes that are not able to be treated from a visit to your local Pharmacist. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana around her neck, she's smiling. Warmly at the camera with her hands slightly raised.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Bert Hardy – Photojournalism in War & Peace - Thursday 9 May, 6.30pm, The Photographers’ Gallery, London The Drifters Girl - Saturday 11 May, 2.30pm, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 2:22 A Ghost Story - Thursday 16 Mary, 7.30pm, Hal New Theatre Much Ado About Nothing - Thursday 23 May, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Margaret Leng Tan: Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep - Saturday 25 May, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter do visit the VocalEyes website

The first Sight Loss Council is being launched in Scotland, with the help of Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans, and Visibility Scotland, it’s being funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, following the successful SLC model that’s been in place for a few years now in England. Hubert has been speaking to the engagement manager from the first Scotland SLC, together with TPT’s director of services.

If you have walked in to your local Community Pharmacy recently or even over the last couple of years you may have noticed that there is a lot more on offer than just picking up your prescriptions and some general medication like headache tablets.  So for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we find out about how your local community Pharmacy has changed over the years and what they are now able to offer you too.  Elizabeth began by telling our Toby Davey about the changes that have happened in the Pharmacy in the last few years and an outline of what Pharmacy staff are able to offer you when you walk through the door, with some differences depending which nation you might live in. Then to how things may link up between your local community Pharmacy and your local GP  For more about Pharmacy First in England do visit - https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/ And for Pharmacy First in Scotland do visit - https://www.gov.scot/publica

Barry Snell caught up with blind Dave to talk about his latest charity fundraiser, an exciting job offer, Plus some unexpected recognition from the English Football League Learn more about Dave and his many fundraising challenges #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Logo

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Madagascar The Musical - Friday 19 April, 7pm, New Theatre Oxford Opening Night - Saturday 27 April, 2.30pm, Gielgud Theatre, London   Hadestown - Saturday 27 April, 2.30pm, Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London Guys & Dolls - Saturday 4 May, 2.30pm, Touch tour 12.25pm, Bridge Theatre, London Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Thursday 9 May, 2pm, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letter

With recent news reports where people have been saying that the NHS is not working, for this week’s check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey began by asking Elizabeth for her response and thoughts on all this news.   Elizabeth then shared her ideas on what could be done to remedy the situation with the NHS that people have been talking about in the news. To then some thoughts on how to maybe reduce some of the amount of wastage within the NHS that people have been talking about too.   Finally Elizabeth gave some suggestions on how to maybe reduce the pressure that NHS A&E units are under with people coming in with minor accidents which could be seen and treated at their local pharmacy. To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana around her neck, she's smiling.

Have you ever heard of something called the Visual Snow Syndrome? Well, it can impact your vision along side other symptoms, Hubert has been speaking to one Doctor who has helped to do a lot of research into the syndrome. 

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: My First Ballet: Swan Lake - Wednesday 10 April, 2pm, touch tour 1pm, Peacock Theatre, London Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles - Wednesday 17 April, 6.30opm, Barbican Centre, London Come From Away - Thursday 18 April, 2pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Descriptive Tour: The Collection - Tuesday 23 April, 2.30pm, National Portrait Gallery, London Shrek The Musical - Wednesday 24 April, 7.30pm, touch tour 6.30pm, Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton Witness for the Prosecution - Thursday 25 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 1.15pm, County Hall, London To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events

Hubert has been visiting Sutton train station to follow the latest series of the Aira visual interpreting service app trials for blind and partially sighted rail passengers. There he spoke to one volunteer from a local sight loss charity in Sutton Pierre Shlimon. If you wish to provide feedback about your own use of the Aira app at one of the supported train stations, you can access it using the link below: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=--0vyv2PX0C4FDIh2eW0iNkKecA9OKdEupEucGhTM35UQTBYRE1ZU0hDV1ZSUEJFTTZTSkpVTDVLTy4u

We hear a lot in the news about the risks of alcohol overindulgence with talk about price increases in supermarkets, off-licenses, restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs but how critically concerning are the risks of alcohol around cancer?   With the recent published research report about the risk of alcohol and cancer for this week’s regular check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick, RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey asked Elizabeth first to explain some of the risks that were highlighted in the report.  Elizabeth then talked about the government suggested recommended limits for the amount of alcohol we should be all drinking along with details of what a unit of alcohol actually is and how it differs depending on what we are drinking. To finally outlining whether there are any good things around alcohol at all. There is support and advice on the following pages of the NHS website about the risks of alcohol - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/  To get in touch with Elizabeth you can em

Hubert has been visiting Sutton Train station to take a look at the latest series of Aira app trials for blind and partially sighted Rail passengers. There he spoke to Antony Merlyn from Govia Thameslink Railway about the progress of the project. If you wish to provide feedback about your own use of the Aira app at one of the supported train stations, you can access it using the link below: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=--0vyv2PX0C4FDIh2eW0iNkKecA9OKdEupEucGhTM35UQTBYRE1ZU0hDV1ZSUEJFTTZTSkpVTDVLTy4u

Hubert has recently visited Sutton train station to see how the latest Aira trials have been going on for blind and partially sighted rail passengers. There he spoke to the engagement manager for South east from Thomas Pocklington Trust who have been working with Govia Thameslink Railway. If you wish to provide feedback about your own use of the Aira app at one of the supported train stations, you can access it using the link below: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=--0vyv2PX0C4FDIh2eW0iNkKecA9OKdEupEucGhTM35UQTBYRE1ZU0hDV1ZSUEJFTTZTSkpVTDVLTy4u

We have frequently mentioned the importance and benefits of an internship, now it’s time to hear from an actual intern as Hubert speaks to Jake Coles about his experience.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie - Saturday 23 March, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Peacock Theatre, London Descriptive Tour: The Time is Always Now - Tuesday 26 March, 2.30pm, National Portrait Gallery, London 2:22 A Ghost Story - Thursday 28 March, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet - Wednesday 3 April, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Mind Mangler - Sunday 7 April, 3pm, touch tour 1.15pm, Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue, London. To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter

Swan Lake is arguably one of the most famous ballets in the world but Scottish Ballet will give it a modern feel for their latest tour. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Emma Jane, from Scottish Ballet, to hear more about the show, which will also have audio described dates for blind and partially sighted patrons. If you'd like more info on Scottish Ballet tours, go to www.scottishballet.co.uk #RNIBConnect Image shows Sophie Martin in the Swan-Lake production. One foot extended in front of her foot pointed, her back arched back and arms gracefully raised above. Her chin is pointing up as she looks above. Her costume is a silvery white body with feather like pattern detailed across her chest and a red jewel shape in the centre. [Photo credit: Scottish Ballet]

For Muslims, we’re in the holy month of Ramadan. But what’s it like to mark the month if you’re blind or partially sighted? Hywel Davies spoke with Tasneem Arshad to hear about her experiences. 

If you live in the Peterborough area, and you fancy giving chess a go, a new club has been launched which gives you the chance to do just that.