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 Ep1751: How Can Cornea Donations Change Lives? May 19, 2026

Show notes

The NHS are encouraging people to register as cornea donors to give the gift of sight.

Amelia learned more about Cornea transplants and the importance of discussing donation with family from Jackie Brander from NHS Blood and Transplant and Consultant Opthalmologist Professor Fiona Carley.

Learn more about registering for organ donation on the NHS website - Register your decision - NHS Organ Donation

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 Ep1753: Bill Blundell on Running the London Marathon for Team RNIB… May 19, 2026

Show notes

Bill Blundell one of the 2026 London Marathon Team RNIB runners who helped to raise £200,000 for the RNIB chats with RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about what it was like running in the London Marathon as a visually impaired runner, why he wanted to run for Team RNIB and as a Trainer for his local running club Bill shares some top tips on both training and running in the London Marathon.

If like Bill you were thinking of putting your trainers on and running for Team RNIB in the 2027 TCS London marathon or running for the RNIB in either the London Big Half in September or the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon in October do visit the following pages of the RMIB website to find out more and how to sign up too -
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 Ep1752: Lynda La Plante Records an Extract from Buried for the RNIB Talking Books Garden May 19, 2026

Show notes

Following on from the great success of the RNIB Gold medal winning Legacy Garden at the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show 2025 the RNIB has been invited to create a garden for the RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 celebrating the 90th anniversary of RNIB Talking Books and the incredible impact that gifts left in Wills have on the RNIB’s work too.

Award-winning Garden Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes is again working on the RNIB Talking Books garden which will feature in its design the play out of extracts from a number of chosen Authors books.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Best-selling Crime Writer Lynda La Plante who has recorded an extract from ‘Buried’, the first book in her Jack Warr series for the RNIB Talking Books garden to find out why she has chosen a very descriptive passage from the novel along with her thoughts on why it is so important for books to be made accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 featuring the RNIB Talking Books garden designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes that includes an extract from ‘Buried’ read by Lynda La Plante and supported by players of the Postcode Lottery is on from 22 to 26 July. To find out more and book your tickets do visit - https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-sandringham-flower-show

S2 Ep1751: Paul Hervey-Brookes on the RNIB Talking Books Garden at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 May 19, 2026

Show notes

Award-winning Garden Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes is again working on the RNIB Talking Books garden which will in many ways bring the Library of the Imagination to life through the garden’s design.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Paul in our London studio and began by asking Paul what it means to him when one of his gardens like the RNIB Legacy Garden at the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show 2025 wins a gold medal. Then to finding out more about Paul’s designs for the RNIB Talking Books Garden, how he will be bringing the library of the imagination to life through many features of the garden’s design, to what he would like visitors to the RNIB Talking Book Garden to experience while exploring the garden at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 plus some of his top tips for planting flowers too.

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 featuring the RNIB Talking Books garden designed by Paul and supported by players of the Postcode Lottery is on from 22 to 26 July. To find out more and book your tickets do visit - https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-sandringham-flower-show

S2 Ep1751: Take To The Green With 'Touchwood VI Bowls Club' May 18, 2026

Show notes

Bowls is a low-impact, social and accessible sport that’s a great way to spend time outdoors. Hywel Davies has been speaking to one club in north Wales where blind and partially sighted bowlers are taking to the green.

S2 Ep1751: Rosie Talks About Her Work Placement With RNIB Connect Radio May 18, 2026

Show notes

In this podcast, Hubert chats to Rosie Murray about her experience of the RNIB See Work Differently Placement at RNIB Connect Radio. We also hear from her manager Allan Russell.

S2 Ep1748: Charity Chief Exec's Customer Update 16/05/2026 May 16, 2026

Show notes

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

This week Simon talks about RNIB’s reaction to the King’s speech in Parliament and a celebratory visit to the Lords.

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

Image Shows RNIB’s CEO Simon Antrobus, A Smiling Simon, Wearing A Black Jacket and A White Shirt.

S2 Ep1745: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, AD Theatre Review May 15, 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.

We stepped into the wild this week with a vibrant telling of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, celebrating the beauty of love in all its forms at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description from Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.

About ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Bard veterans and newbies alike will enjoy The Rep’s return to Shakespeare. Starring the hilarious Adam Carver (aka cabaret sensation Fatt Butcher) and set in the heart of Birmingham where Brummie accents punctuate this much-loved comedy.

When a love-struck teenager is forced to marry a man, rather than the woman she loves, she has a few options: certain death, live a lie, move to a nunnery… or flee to a messy, neon party in an enchanted forest!

Beyond the city walls, boundaries blur, music pulsates, and love is celebrated. Inhibitions are unleashed and love potions spill into more re-couplings than an episode of Love Island.

This night on the tiles also features a feel-good soundtrack of pop music and original songs that will have you dancing in your seats: but maybe Sweet Dreams aren’t made of this…? The feisty fairies are locked in their own conflict; the seasons are pulled into climate chaos and the young lovers’ moonlit escape from reality loses its shine.

Directed by The Rep’s Artistic Director, Joe Murphy and Deputy Artistic Director, Madeleine Kludje, step into the wild with this vibrant telling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, celebrating the beauty of love in all its forms.

For more about access at the Birmingham REP including details of audio described performances do visit - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/

S2 Ep1750: The Big Help Out Hi Vis Fortnight and National Year of Reading May 15, 2026

Show notes

The year is the National Year of Reading. With more on RNIB’s plans and how you can get involved, here’s David Hogg…

S2 Ep1747: UK Sight Loss Charity Responds To King’s Speech Content May 14, 2026

Show notes

UK sight loss charity RNIB has been giving it’s response to some of the announcements, relating to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, contained within the King’s speech.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Rhys Felton, to look at the positives within the speech and what the charity would liked to have heard prioritised.

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