RNIB Connect

The RNIB has announced today (7 May 2026) that actor, and star of Disney+ UK’s ‘Rivals,’ Victoria Smurfit has been appointed as the charity’s new President. Victoria takes on the role as Dame Gail Ronson DBE steps down after 14 years of dedicated service.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Dame Gail Ronson DBE for a bit of a look back over her 14 years as RNIB President as she passes on the baton to Actor Victoria Smurfit.
RNIB has recognised Dame Gail Ronson DBE’s contribution to the organisation by awarding her the title of Honorary President, which means she will continue to have a close connection with the charity and its work.
Image Shows Dame Gail Ronson DBE and Victoria Smurfit stood outside the entrance of the RNIB's Grimaldi building in London

The RNIB has announced today (7 May 2026) that actor, and star of Disney+ UK’s ‘Rivals,’ Victoria Smurfit has been appointed as the charity’s new President. Victoria takes on the role as Dame Gail Ronson DBE steps down after 14 years of dedicated service.
Victoria brings a personal connection to RNIB as mum to Evie age 21, who was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy as a child. Victoria also has a longstanding family connection to RNIB through her father, Dr Dermot Smurfit, an RNIB Vice-President, who has supported the charity for decades.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Victoria to find out how she feels taking up the role of President of the RNIB following on from Dame Gail Ronson DBE, more about her family’s long-standing connection with the RNIB, a couple of areas of work around sight loss that Victoria would like to champion as President plus reflecting on watching her daughter Evie grow up with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy.
Image shows Victoria and Toby with guide dog Boston behind the mixing desk in the Connect Radio studio in London

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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