RNIB Connect

Rebecca Williams is an amateur gardener from Essex, who created a beautiful multisensory garden design which will be featured at the upcoming Gardener’s World Live in Birmingham this June.
Sensed, Not Seen was inspired by Rebecca's father David, who started losing his sight in his 20s due to diabetic retinopathy. 
She spoke with RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew.
You can follow Rebecca on her Instagram @itsbeckysgarden 
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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 week we have Welsh National Opera’s production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at the Birmingham Hippodrome with description by Professional Audio Describer Jonathan Nash. 
About ‘The Flying Dutchman’
Lost souls bound by the sea. A ghostly ship roams the endless sea, vast, lonely and unrelenting. Its captain cursed to sail for eternity until redeemed by true love.
Senta, captivated by the story of the mysterious Flying Dutchman condemned to sail forever, becomes the only hope for his salvation. Her longing for escape entwines her fate with his in ways neither could foresee.
This gripping reimagining of The Flying Dutchman explores the deep ache of loneliness and the fragile hope of human connection. Inspired by the sublime beauty of the Welsh coast, the sea is the opera’s canvas, and both a compulsion and prison for its characters. Wagner's orchestrations from the thunderous overture to its haunting arias, become the heartbeat of the story, evoking the power of the ocean and leaving you adrift in its spell.
Sung in German with surtitles in English. 
For more about Welsh National Opera and their access offer do visit - https://wno.org.uk/take-part/access-performances/
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We know how difficult it can be for blind and partially sighted people to get that first run on the career ladder or come back into work after a break.  Well one way the RNIB is helping visually impaired people to take that first step into employment or return to work is through the RNIB See Work Differently Work placement scheme. These are paid placements for a fixed term of twelve weeks and are generally for fourteen hours per week 
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Aminah Aslam who is currently on placement as an RNIB Public Affairs Assistant and Rhys Felton, RNIB Public Affairs Officer who has been supporting Aminah, to find out what the See Work Differently Work Placement scheme is all about, why Aminah wanted to apply for a placement, how things have been going so far for her, how Rhys has been supporting Aminah during her placement and the benefits of the scheme for other visually impaired people who might be looking at ways of getting into work or coming back after a break.
Future RNIB See Work Differently Work Placements will be advertised through the recruitment pages of the RNIB website and to find out more about the placement scheme do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/equality-and-employment/see-work-differently-placement-programme/

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The teams are gearing up for this year’s EE Disability FA Cup Finals which take place in June. Hywel Davies has been catching up with Bolton Futsal ahead of the big match.
You can find more information on all of the finals taking place, by visiting the FA website - EE Disability FA Cup returns for 2026

What is sensory play and why is it so beneficial for children with a vision impairment?
Amelia spoke to Tom Norton from the RNIB Education and Children service about the benefits of sensory play.
Find the play guides on the RNIB website -Facilitating play for children with vision impairment | RNIB

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