Rnib Conversations

A new community eye care service has launched in South East London to provide more accessible eye care for people with learning disabilities and / or who are autistic. Hubert has been finding out more information about the service. 

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: The Mousetrap - Wednesday 25 October, 2.30pm, King’s Lynn  Corn Exchange   2:22 A Ghost Story - Thursday 26 October, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Theatre Royal Brighton The Little Big Things - Friday 27 October, 7.30pm, @Soho Place, London Greatest Days - Saturday 28 October, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.45pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester Private Lives - Saturday 28 October, 2.30pm, Ambassadors Theatre, 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 - https://vocaleyes.co.uk (Image shows the VocalEyes logo. A speec

Time to connect with the natural world around us with nature guide Andy Shipley. This month, some things to keep an ear out for when out walking near heathland, grassland or woodland. With special appearance by: red dear stags, wild boar, and apples! Find the full Sensory Reflections Playlist here: Audioboom / Sensory Reflections With Andy Shipley on RNIB Connect Radio For more about Andy's work and to get in touch with him visit: Nature Connection And Sensory Immersion | Natural Inclusion (natural-inclusion.org) Image shows Andy standing outside in front of a tree. He's holding his white cane and is dressed for outdoor adventure in a grey hoodie, a cap, and a windproof jacket. Sound credit: 'WILD BOAR GRUNTS AND SQUEALS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'Tawny Owl Sounds' BY SPANAC, 'SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER SONG AND CALLS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'EAT APPLE SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'The call of Red Stag_Animal Sound' by NickyPe.

Blind and partially sighted people living in the Ceredigion area will be pleased to learn about the return of Ceredigion Talking Newspaper. Barry Snell chats to Syd Smith, the man behind the relaunch of much loved talking newspaper. {Image: RNIB Connect Radio 20th Anniversary written in white against a dark green background. There is also a bold white line separating the words RNIB connect Radio from 20th Anniversary}

Following on from our last check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow, for this week’s check in Elizabeth tells our Toby Davey all about other winter illnesses we should be looking out for over the next few months. Elizabeth began by telling Toby all about sinusitis, what it is, what causes the condition, the symptoms and how to treat sinusitis. Then to whether a sore throat is similar to sinusitis and ending by suggesting that maybe most of our winter illnesses are just viral. You will find more information about sinusitis on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/ To get in touch with Elizabeth email admin@newlifepharmacy.co.uk  or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. 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.

Hubert has attended the Sight Loss Council conference in Birmingham, where he managed to speak to a couple of volunteers from different Sight Loss Councils about their local contributions. 

Hubert has been attending the 2023 Sight Loss Council Conference in Birmingham organised by Thomas Pocklington Trust, and supported by NaviLens. There he had a chat with TPT's director of services Emma Hughes about the Sight Loss Councils. 

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. RNIB Mental Health First Aid Instructor Chris Simpson,  shares his shortcuts to happiness chemicals and how to hack them. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. Creator of Life of a Blind Girl blog and social media star, Holly Tuke, shares her Top Tips for Digital Wellbeing. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. Today, sharing her best picks for a happy read is RNIB Library's Lynne Livingstone. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. And sharing her top tips for what we can get up to in our gardens this autumn, is keen gardener Fi. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. And sharing her top tips for how to get a better night's rest over the cold months is Alyson O'Brien from Sleep Scotland. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. Today, learn about mindfulness and how to practice it in your daily life with Amanda Hawkins, RNIB's Head of Mental Health and Counselling Services. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...'

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. In spirit of this year's theme, that mental health is a universal human right, we're highlighting some of our best features to improve knowledge, raise awareness and promote better mental health. Today, let's take a deep breath and slow things down with this quick breathing exercise from Kim Jaye. If you’d like to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, RNIB is here for you. Get in touch via 0303 123 9999 or helpline@rnib.org.uk. We also has lots of resources on our website http://rnib.in/MentalWellbeingResources Image shows the logo for World Mental Health Day 2023. A drawing of Earth smiling and enveloped in a green ribbon which reads 'World Mental Health Day 2023' from top to bottom. A little speech bubble above the globe says: 'Tuesday 10 October is...' (SFX credit: Calm Seashore - No Copyright Sound Effects - Audio Library)

With the days starting to get a bit shorter and maybe a nip in the air too, flu season will be soon upon us if not already. So for this weeks regular check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow our Toby Davey began by asking Elizabeth why certain people need a yearly flu vaccination. Elizabeth then explained to Toby from her own experience what the difference is between having the flu and having a cold. Then to why antibiotics won’t work if you have the flu. Elizabeth ended this week’s check in by explaining to Toby the best ways to avoid getting flu and whether it is safe to have both the Covid and flu vaccinations at the same time.  You can find out more about the symptoms of flu by visiting the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/ To get in touch with Elizabeth email admin@newlifepharmacy.co.uk or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white

Take a listen as Hubert finds out about a unique film based event taking place in the West Midlands on the 1st of October. 

Discover Digital is a project from the Alliance that raises awareness of using digital resources to support our health and wellbeing. . They recently ran a workshop for blind and partially sighted people at Forth Valley Sensory Centre, and our Paulina went over to check it out. Find out more about Discover Digital here: Discover Digital - Digital (alliance-scotland.org.uk) Image shows the workshop attendees, eight people, sitting in office chairs in a small room with desks and computer screens. Maisie is standing up as she chats to some of the people in the back.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a blind or partially sighted contestant on the ITV game show The Chase? Hubert has been talking to Mel, one of the contestants that has recently been on the show about their experience. 

Empish J Thomas is a freelance writer and disability blogger in the USA, who has been living with sight loss for more than 20 years. She has been sharing her story with RNIB Connect Radio's Barry Snell. To find out more about Empish and her blogs visit empishjthomas.com {Image: A head-shot of a smiling Empish. She appears to be wearing a navy blue suit jacket with a pink blouse underneath. She is also wearing a silver coloured necklace too. Her hair is shoulder length and she is wearing lip stick which matches her blouse.}

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: Crazy for You - Wednesday 20 September, 7.30pm, Gillian Lynne Theatre, London   National Museum Cardiff - Audio Described Tour, Thursday 21 September, 10.30am, Cardiff Everyone’s Talking About Jamie - Thursday 21 September, 7.30pm, Sunderland Empire Shrek the Musical - Friday 22 September, 7.30pm, New Oxford Theatre Audio Art:  Utterly in the Picture - Thursday 28 September, 12noon, National Gallery, London Metamorphosis - Saturday 30 September, 2pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Mast Mayflower Studios, 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