RNIB Connect

RNIB Connect Radio is the UK radio station for blind and partially sighted people to find out what is happening in the community. You can also contribute and share your stories by emailing radio@rnib.org.uk. Get involved and join the conversation.

Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio

Conversations – Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.

Read On – The Audiobook show all about accessible reading.

Tech Talk – Technology for blind and partially sighted people.

Sport – See sport differently.

The Happy Hour – Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.

Tracks of My Life – Take a journey through our guest’s life.

Support – Other podcasts from RNIB.

TV Guide – Daily audio TV listings

Latest Episodes:

S2 Ep1765: June 2026 Almanac Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

How do people around the world celebrate the summer solstice? What does the nightjar sound like?

Amelia is back with the monthly almanac.

Learn more about birdsong and the nature you can enjoy every month on the RSPB website - RSPB Bird & Wildlife Conservation Charity

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white and black background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

S2 Ep1763: Accessible Tennis Coverage For Wimbledon Championships Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

There’s a new way to enjoy tennis at this year’s Wimbledon Championships, Hywel Davies has been finding out more about ‘Action Audio’.

For more information, visit the Action Audio website - Action Audio - Making sports broadcasts accessible to people living with blindness or low vision

S2 Ep1762: Can UK Government’s Access To Work Scheme Be Fixed? Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

For people with disabilities, the UK Government’s Access To Work scheme is a vital support for getting into, and staying in, work.

Unfortunately ATW has been buckling under the strain of increased applications, not enough staff, poor working practices and not enough funding.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Roisin Jacklin, from RNIB, to hear about work being done to improve the vital employment lifeline.

If your blind or partially sighted and having problems with Access To Work, call 0303 123 9999 for RNIB’s Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

Image Shows RNIB Connect Radio Logo, White Background, RNIB In Bold Black Letters, A Solid Pink Line Below With Connect Radio Underneath

S2 Ep1761: Jake Hart Runs the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Team RNIB May 29, 2026

Show notes

If you have ever thought about taking on a running challenge event to support the RNIB but thought the London Marathon might be just a few miles too far?
Well why not run for Team RNIB in either the London Big Half this September or the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon in October and raise important funds for the RNIB at the same time.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Jake Hart who also presents The Jazz Club every Friday and Saturday nights on the station to find out what it was like running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Team RNIB as a visually impaired person.

Jake shares why he wanted to run for Team RNIB, what it was like for him running through four of London’s beautiful Royal Parks passing many of the capital’s famous landmarks on the way and also some great jazz tracks to listen to while training and to get in the mood for running the Royal Parks Half Marathon too.

if you are thinking about running for Team RNIB in either the London Big Half this September or like Jake in the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon in October then do visit the following link for more details on how to sign up to run for Team RNIB -
https://www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/challenge-events/?event_type=1&event_location=16

(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

S2 Ep1760: RNIB Campaigns Monthly Update - Self-Driving Taxis and PIP May 29, 2026

Show notes

For this month’s RNIB Campaigns update RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Ross Meegan, RNIB’s Assistant Campaigns Officer to find out more about an opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to share their thoughts and concerns about self-driving taxis and an update on the PIP (Personal Independent Payments) situation.

To take part in the survey on self-driving taxis do visit the following link and to find out more about other ways to get involved in RNIB Campaigns do either email campaigns@rnib.org.uk or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fDNFXZLR_EOqWAVVfJFxvCX5G4Z1621Fsf4bniKOaNpUNjlZNkNMQlgySVhLU0RFRzJJRkM1MTBVWC4u

S2 Ep1759: NIGO: From Japan with Love, Design Museum - Audio Described Tour, Friday 5 June 2026 from 10.30am May 29, 2026

Show notes

From the back streets of Harajuku, Tokyo, to the global stage, the exhibition ‘NIGO: From Japan with Love’ at the Design Museum in London is the first-ever museum retrospective exhibition outside of Japan that charts the career and life of the Japanese creative director, NIGO, one of the first creatives to bridge the worlds of streetwear and luxury fashion.

The ‘NIGO: From Japan with Love’ exhibition features over 700 objects, including a recreation of NIGO’s teenage bedroom, rare designs, ceramics hand-thrown by NIGO himself, and a life-size glass tea house made especially for the exhibition.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Luisa Ulyett, Senior Curator, Public Practice at the Design Museum and Rosa Abbott, Assistant Curator of the exhibition to find out more about NIGO and the audio described tour of the ‘NIGO: from Japan with Love’ exhibition on Friday 5 June 2026 from 10.30am to 12noon.

To find out more and book your place on the audio described tour of the ’NIGO: From Japan with Love’ exhibition do visit - https://designmuseum.org/whats-on/talks-courses-and-workshops/audio-described-tour-of-nigo-from-japan-with-love

S2 Ep1758: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - Operation Mincemeat, AD Theatre Review May 29, 2026

Show notes

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for another audio described theatre review.

This time we have what is becoming a bit of a cult musical as the UK tour of ‘Operation Mincemeat’ visited the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham with description by Professional Audio Describer Theo Hornsby-Walsh.

About ‘Operation Mincemeat’

Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical. It's London's biggest hit with 88 Five-Star reviews, making it the best-reviewed show in West End history.

THE YEAR IS 1943 AND WE'RE LOSING THE WAR. LUCKILY, WE'RE ABOUT TO GAMBLE ALL OUR FUTURES ON A STOLEN CORPSE.

Singin' in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler?

To find out more about ‘Operation Mincemeat’ and the UK tour do visit -
https://operationmincemeat.com/tour/uk/

S2 Ep1757: Catch Up With World's Strongest Disabled Man Evan Schwerbrock May 29, 2026

Show notes

Blind Sports Professional Evan Scwerbrock currently holds the title of world’s strongest disabled man.

He tells Amelia about his preparation for the competition, how the day went down and his upcoming events.

Learn more about Evan on his website - ABOUT | Cane & Able Fitness
Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and Youtube @caneandablefitness

S2 Ep1751: A Cultural Journey of the Churchill War Rooms for Blind and Partially Sighted People May 25, 2026

Show notes

Hidden beneath the streets of Westminster lies The Churchill War Rooms, the secret headquarters where the course of the Second World War was determined.

So do join RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey as he goes on a tour of the Churchill War Rooms with Oliver Carter-Wakefield, Curator of the CWR, walking through many of the secret underground rooms, finding out what it was like for the men and women who worked there alongside Churchill during World War II, looking into the man behind the icon as well as stepping inside the places where Winston Churchill made some of his BBC Radio broadcast addresses to the nation.

Throughout the tour you will also hear clips from the recorded audio described guide to the Churchill War Rooms for blind and partially sighted people which is available from the Audio Desk in the entrance to the CWR.

To find out more about the Churchill War Rooms and the recorded audio described guide do visit - https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

Image shows the entrance to the Churchill War Rooms, a small double glass doored archway with a dark brown metal dome on top, Churchil War Rooms written in gold capital letters with the Clive Steps to the left.

S2 Ep1756: Charity Chief Exec's Customer Update 23/05/2026 May 23, 2026

Show notes

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio sits down with Simon Antrobus, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk

You can call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999

Or ask your Smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

RNIB Connect

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected