Rnib Conversations

Following Hubert’s interview with Antony Merlyn about the Aira trials at Stevenage station, he spoke afterwards to one of the volunteer testers about their experience using the app.  Image shows RNIB logo. Upon a green background, 3 rows of text. From top to bottom: RNIB, Connect Radio, 20th Anniversary. A bold white line underlines the words Connect Radio.

Some rail companies have been testing the Aira assistance app at some of their stations.  Our Hubert has taken a trip to Stevenage, where he spoke to one of the rail company representatives about the ongoing trials and future of accessible train travel. Image shows RNIB logo. Upon a green background, 3 rows of text. From top to bottom: RNIB, Connect Radio, 20th Anniversary. A bold white line underlines the words Connect Radio.

If you are thinking about jetting off for your summer holidays or just flying off within the UK for a weekend break, how accessible might air travel be for blind and partially sighted people and what about flying off with your Guide Dog or Assistance Dog too.  RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with John Welsman, Customer Experience Lead at Guide Dogs to talk about some of the access issues around air travel that have been reported to Guide Dogs plus all about their recent visual awareness training for Virgin Atlantic cabin and airline staff. If you would like to know more about flying with your Guide Dog or Assistance Dog there is a lot of information on the following Guide Dogs website pages - https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/information-and-advice/travelling-with-your-assistance-dog/ To find out more about the visual awareness training that Guide Dogs gave to Virgin Atlantic cabin and airline staff you can find out more on the following pages of the Guide Dogs website too - https://ww

Time to connect with the natural world around us with nature guide Andy Shipley. In this episode we will be turning our ears to the sky and tuning into some of our aerial gymnasts. Plus, a sensory activity and some ways you can help wildlife at this time of year. 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) Find out how to build a wildlife pond: How to make a wildlife pond (rspb.org.uk) 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 credits: 'COMMON SWIFT CALLS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'BUZZARD SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'Swallows' via BigSoundBank. 

Barry Snell chats to dancer and choreographer Holly Thomas, to learn about her exciting dance project Hal Light, which explores the often unchartered territory of dance and visual impairment. To learn more about the Half Light project here hollythomasdance.co.uk/projects/half-light/ Image: Close up Picture of Holly standing up with her arms bent at the elbows pointing upwards. She is wearing a striped green top and her long brown hair is tied back in a pony-tail.   

With the temperature rising and much more hours of sunshine now that we seem to be in summer time for this week’s check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davy asks Elizabeth whether the sun is good or bad for us. Elizabeth also talks about the potential benefits of vitamin D from the sun and risks of skin cancer from being out too long in the sun. Elizabeth ends by giving her advice to us all about being careful when we are out and about in the sun and wanting to top up our tans this summer. You can find out more about sunscreen and sun safety on the following pages of the NHS website -  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/#:~:text=Sun%20safety%20tips,shade%20between%2011am%20and%203pm To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email Elizabeth.r@newlifehealthcare.co.uk or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image:  Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pha

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 weekly email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Once on This Island - Saturday 10 June, 3pm, Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London The Commitments - Thursday 15 June, 7.30pm, The Hexagon Theatre, Reading Abigail’s Party -Saturday 17 June, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome Pride and Prejudice (sort of) - Wednesday 21 June, 2.30pm, Norwich Theatre Royal The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Wednesday 21 June, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.20pm, New Theatre Oxford Animals, Art, Science and Sound - Monday 26 June, 6pm, British Library, London, To find out more about these and other up-coming audio-described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the VocalEyes weekly email ne

RNIB Connect  Radio's Barry Snell chats to Colin Sinclair from Behear audio and his daughter Amy, about their exciting audiobook service, which features dramatised stories and boasts of being like Netflix without the pictures. They were inspired to set up Behear after Amy was involved in a road accident which resulted in sight loss. To find out more about Behear audio click here  Image shows RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo. Upon a green background 3 rows of text. 'RNIB' on top written in bold white capital letters, 'Connect Radio' below and underline with a thick white line and at the very bottom the words: '20th Anniversary.'

Time to connect with the natural world around us with nature guide Andy Shipley. This month, listen out for more birdsong as Andy tells us about the red list of endangered species in the UK. Plus, a bonus featuring some naughty hedgehogs. 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) To support RSPB: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) 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 credits: 'Curlew Bird Sound' via mingosounds, 'EURASIAN SKYLARK SONG SOUND' via Quick Sounds, European Turtle Dove via xeno-canto, 'hedgehog sounds' via soundspunos.

For this week’s check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we are talking about constipation, a subject we may not want to talk about but we all should. Elizabeth began by telling  RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about what the official definition of constipation is and the main causes of constipation too. Then Elizabeth explained to Toby about the different types of laxatives that are out there and some of the possible issues around the potential misuse of them.  Finally Elizabeth highlighted how important it is for those of us who are in are over 50s to do the bowel test. There is more information about constipation on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email Elizabeth.r@newlifehealthcare.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

With reports of the increase in cases of Chickenpox in the news recently we thought for this week’s check-in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we should focus on Chickenpox. Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about the connection between Chickenpox and Shingles and how ChickenPox is spread. Then to the itchy rash that people get with ChickenPox and how long the rash might last. Finally Elizabeth talked about the vaccines for chickenpox. You can find out more about Chickenpox by visiting the following pages of the NHS website- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/#:~:text=Chickenpox%20is%20very%20itchy%20and,than%20once%2C%20but%20it%27s%20unusual To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email Elizabeth.r@newlifehealthcare.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.

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 weekly email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The Beekeeper Of Aleppo - Saturday 13 May, 2.30pm, touch tour 1.30pm, Theatre Royal Norwich Around the World in 80 Days - Thursday 18 May, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre Titanic The Musical - Tuesday 23 May, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Wycombe Swan Theatre, High Wycombe Six The Musical - Thursday 25 may, 8pm, Hull New Theatre Elvis Died of Burgers - Thursday 25 May, 7.30pm, Battersea Arts Centre, London  A Mid Summer Night’s Dream - Saturday 27 May, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London To find out more about these and other up-coming audio-described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the VocalEyes weekly email new

Finding a community that understands what it’s like living without sight can be an amazing feeling. Eye Matter is a small visual impairment charity that does just that for its members, helping connect them through a variety of fun and exciting events. And they have lots of them coming up over the next couple of months. Our Paulina Kuchorew was joined by Eye Matter Coordinator, Suzie Simons, to find out more. To get in touch email: eyemattervi@gmail.com Image shows RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo. Upon a green background 3 rows of text. 'RNIB' on top written in bold white capital letters, 'Connect Radio' below and underline with a thick white line and at the very bottom the words: '20th Anniversary.'

Time to connect with the natural world around and this months it’s all about listening to birdsong and also being a little bit lazy. 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 credits: 'GOLDFINCH CALLS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'GREENFINCH SONG SOUND' via Quick Sounds, CHAFFINCH SONG SOUND via Quick Sounds.

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 weekly email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Retrograde - Thursday 20 April to Saturday  27 May, 7.30pm, Kilne Theatre, London,  British Library Monthly Art Workshops, starting Wednesday 26 April, 11am, British Library, London Sucker Punch - Friday 28 April, 7.45pm, touch tour 6.15pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester Black Superhero - Saturday 29 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 1pm, Royal Court, London,  Cut and Paste Exhibition, Friday 5 May, 2pm, The Francis Crick Institute, London The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Wednesday 10 May, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Royal & Derngate Northampton. To find out more about these and other up-coming audio-described arts events as well as details about how to sign up

With the days starting to get longer now with lighter mornings and evenings, we are also coming into hay fever season. Knowing that many people are affected quite badly from hay fever for this week’s check-in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we thought we would focus on hay fever.  Elizabeth began by explaining to RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey that hey fever is an allergy and the different types of pollen that cause hay fever. Elizabeth then went on to talk about treatments for hay fever and, apart from the annoying symptoms, whether there are any dangers to health from having hay fever. Finally Elizabeth and Toby talked about whether anything at all could be done to prevent hay fever. You can find out more about hay fever by visiting the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/  To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email Elizabeth.r@newlifehealthcare.co.uk or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image:  Pi

With spring in full-bloom it's the perfect time to look at our gardens and what we could be doing in them. And joining our Paulina Kuchorew to share some of her best spring gardening advice is Julia Smith, Social Therapeutic Horticulturists with Charity Thrive. Get more gardening tips from Thrive here: Get gardening - Thrive Image shows daisies arranged in the shape of a heart atop a tree trunk. 

For this week’s regular check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we are focusing on the part of the body we use every day, our feet and how to prevent some of those foot problems we get from time to time. Elizabeth began by telling RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about some of the foot injuries that some people seem to get. Then on to how important it is to look after your feet if you have diabetes.   Elizabeth then explained to Toby what actually athlete’s foot is and how best to prevent athletes foot and treat the condition. Finally Elizabeth shared some recent research around marathon runners and Osteoarthritis and telling toby that he can’t use the condition as an excuse for not running a marathon! You can find out more about Osteoarthritis by visiting the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/ To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email Elizabeth.r@newlifehealthcare.co.uk or for more information visit https://newlifepha

When things seem hopeless being able to reach out for support can make a world of difference. Amanda Whitfield was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease a few years ago, but when her condition started getting worse in 2020 she reached out to charity Sight Scotland for help. There she met Community Worker Debbie McGregor, who has supported Amanda in getting back on her feet. Our Paulina Kuchorew spoke with both to hear their story. Image of Sight Scotland 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 weekly email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Noughts & Crosses - Saturday 1 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 1pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester Quality Street - Wednesday 5 April, 7.30pm, Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton The Winter’s Tale - Wednesday 12 April, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Sam Wannamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Bonnie and Clyde - Thursday 13 April, 7.30pm, Garrick Theatre, London Home, I’m Darling - Saturday 15 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Theatre Royal Brighton The Beekeeper of Allepo - Wednesday 19 April, 7.30pm, touch tour 6.30pm, The Lowry, Salford To find out more about these and other up-coming audio-described arts events as well as details about how