RNIB Connect

Bournemouth-based writer, theatre-maker and Audio Description Consultant Tam Gilbert is almost coming to the end of her time as the second Trainee Artistic Director at Extant the UK”s leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists and theatre practitioners.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Tam to find out more about her writing and theatre background, how her time as the second Trainee Artistic Director at Extant came about, what Tam has been doing as TAD so far, the “marking Time’ project looking into the prison experience from a visually impaired persons point of view, what Tam will take from her time as TAD at Extant and what might be next for her when her time at Extant comes to an end this summer.
You can follow Tam on social media by searching for Tam Gilbert theatre Maker. 
To find out more about Extant do go to - https://extant.org.uk
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There are many ways in which you can help the RNIB in making a more inclusive society for blind and partially sighted people and one way is through the regular RNIB Voice of the Customer Focus Group meetings.
The most recent Focus Group meeting was all about the RNIB’s research around Primary Eye Care with the focus group looking into community eye care. 
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Robin Kaye, Research and Insight Officer from the RNIB’s Insight team, Lucille who is visually impaired and took part in the recent Voice of the Customer Focus Group plus Rob Cooper, RNIB Director of Strategic Engagement and Implementation to find out more about the research and how the focus group meeting went too.
To find out more about the RNIB research programme and to get involved in future voice of the Customer Focus Groups do email [email protected] or call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999.
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Collective Climate Repair is a UK initiative showing how simple, nature-based actions with plants and water can tackle climate change in practical, accessible ways lead by the Sensory Trust.
As part of the project the Sensory Trust in partnership with Trees for Cities are running a free tree touch tour in London’s Victoria park on Saturday 16 May from 2pm to 3.30pm for blind and partially sighted people.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Lynsey Robinson, Project Manager, Sensory Trust and Jessica Pereira Wawrzyniak, Engagement Manager, Trees for Cities to find out more about the free tree touch tour in London’s Victoria Park, the Collective Climate Repair project and how we can all play are part in tackling climate change.
To book your place and find out more about the free tree touch tour on Saturday 16 May from 2pm to 3.30pm in Victoria Park in London as well as more about the Collective Climate Repair project do visit the Trees for Cities website - https://www.treesforcities.org/collective-climate-repair
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Time to browse through some of the products that are available in the RNIB’s online shop as Charlee Jarvis, RNIB Shop buying administrator gives RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey a walk through some of the items that are currently on display including the Hable Speechlabels. 
Designed for blind and partially sighted people, the Hable Speechlabels are QR labels scanned by your smartphone allowing you to quickly and clearly identify everyday items through recorded labels and messages.
To find out more about the Hable Speechlabels that are available in the RNIB online shop and many more products do visit - https://shop.rnib.org.uk/connect
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RNIB’s See Work Differently Placement programme offers placements across RNIB Teams and gives people with sight loss the chance to gain real work experience with supportive employers and move closer to the jobs and futures they want. 
RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew is joined by Anita Marshall from the Legal Right Service team at RNIB, as well as Hannah Barrett who is currently doing her placement as an admin assistant within Anita’s team.
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.