Rnib Conversations

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

Barry Snell caught up with charity fundraiser 'Blind' Dave Heeley, OBE who had just completed the Hadrian's Wall challenge, a 5 day trek from Newcastle to Cumbria to raise money for the Albion Foundation A veteran of many challenges around the World, this latest one certainly had it's challenges for Dave and his team. To learn more about Dave and his many achievements click here 

Time to connect with the natural world around us with nature guide Andy Shipley. This month,  as RNIB Connect Radio celebrates 20 years, Andy has some special things to listen out for in nature this month, including the annoying wasp, charm of goldfinches and some common kestrels. 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: 'EURASIAN JAY HARSH CALLS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'A Flock of Goldfinches' by DMNature, 'Common kestrel - sound effect' by Anthony Dietrich, 'Wasp' sound effect via deadsounds. 

With many recent news reports around prostate cancer for this week’s regular check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we are going to be talking about prostate cancer and why it is so important for men over 50 to have regular checks.  Elizabeth began by telling RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about a possible new way of detecting prostate cancer before then explaining to Toby about the connection between the prostate gland and the bladder and why a lot of older men have an enlarged prostate.  Elizabeth ended with some good advice for men who might have prostate cancer and explaining to Toby why it is so important for men over 50 to have regular checks with their doctor. There is more information around Prostate Cancer on the NHS website via the following link - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/ To get in touch with Elizabeth email admin@newlifepharmacy.co.uk  or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image: Picture showing Elizabeth stan

With many recent news reports around prostate cancer for this week’s regular check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we are going to be talking about prostate cancer and why it is so important for men over 50 to have regular checks.  Elizabeth began by telling RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about a possible new way of detecting prostate cancer before then explaining to Toby about the connection between the prostate gland and the bladder and why a lot of older men have an enlarged prostate.  Elizabeth ended with some good advice for men who might have prostate cancer and explaining to Toby why it is so important for men over 50 to have regular checks with their doctor. There is more information around Prostate Cancer on the NHS website via the following link - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/ To get in touch with Elizabeth email admin@newlifepharmacy.co.uk  or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image: Picture showing Elizabeth stan

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: Heathers, The Musical - Thursday 17 August, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.45pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester Edinburgh Art Festival, Keg de Souza’s Shipping Roots - Wednesday 23 August, 10am, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh Paper making Workshop - Wednesday 30 august, 11am, British Library, London The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Friday 1 September, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, King’s Theatre, Glasgow Macbeth - Saturday 2 September, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Shakespeare’s Globe, 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 Voc

For this week’s regular check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow we are talking about something we may all not want to mention, urine infections along with Elizabeth’s thoughts and reaction to those misleading TikTok videos going around claiming that rubbing caster oil around or into your eyes could help to cure eye issues and some eye conditions which is totally untrue as Doctors have been saying. Elizabeth began by explaining to our Toby Davey about how common urine infections are, whether urine infections are more common in women, the symptoms we should be looking out for that might prompt medical advice, plus treatments for urine infections and what might be good to help prevent urine infections too. Elizabeth ended by giving her reaction to those untrue and misleading TikTok videos going around claiming that rubbing caster oil into your eyes could help to cure some eye issues and even some eye conditions.  There is more information about urine infections on the NHS

Time to connect with the natural world around with Andy Shipley. This month, Andy listen out for a bird you can commonly hear at this time of year, plus we get low to the ground as we explore the grasslands and a sensory activity. 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: 'HOUSE MARTIN CALLS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'Grasshopper' via pixabay, 'Green Woodpecker' via british-birdsongs.

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: Midsummer Mechanicals - Wednesday 9 August, 1pm, touch tour 11.30am, The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Charlie and The Chocolate Factory - The Musical, Wednesday 9 August, 7pm, Sunderland Empire Cuckoo - Saturday 12 August, 2.30pm, touch tour 1pm, Royal Court Theatre, London  Blood Brothers- Thursday 17 August, 2.30pm, Chelmsford Theatre Barnsley Museums Film Screenings - Saturday 26 August, from 10.30am     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

Now, it's time for another sight loss story from an RNIB Customer as Hywel Davies chats to Nicky Williams.

With Edinburgh Festival Fringe taking place from Friday 4th till Monday 28th of August, we thought let’s find out what’s accessibility like at the festival this year? Our Paulina Kuchorew spoke with Deputy Chief Executive of the Fringe, Lyndsey Jackson. Find out more about accessibility at the festival here: Accessibility | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com) Image shows the fringe logo. Atop a white background a coral pink circle with 'fringe' written in white in the middle and some slight fading of colour around the edges of the circle.

With recent reports about the rise in the number of people getting tick bites, for this week’s check in with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow our Toby Davey began by asking Elizabeth how serious this rise in Tick bites might be and should we be concerned at all.  Elizabeth then explained to Toby how obvious it might be knowing when you have been bitten, how to remove a tick properly and when to seek medical help. Elizabeth ended by giving her thoughts on the controversy over the recommendation that all masks are withdrawn from healthcare  and care settings. If you have any concerns around Tick bites you can find some further useful information on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/tick-bite 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