Royal National Institute of Blind People

I'm going to ask you an awkward question that you can refuse to answer now if you want.

Where does the role of, say, an organisation like the RNIB stop and guide dogs begin? Or how does someone decide what's the right organisation they should be working with or should they be working with both?

Well, I might say, so the slippery shoulders part of me would say, I think our chief executives and senior leaders are potentially having those conversations.

What I would say as an operational manager is that I think we do work fairly well shoulder to shoulder with those organizations we could probably do better together there's an amazing room of support here maybe one day we will have that you know what visionary do and we will all come together and we will all be rowing the boat in the same direction so i think we're we're well on the way to getting there it's really really exciting

Awesome stuff.

I'll have to ask the RNIB the same question.

How can people learn more about Guide Dogs UK?

Well, one of the best things is our website.

I just did it because that was my life.

And so I think when I moved into the voluntary sector, I suppose working initially for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, it was all about, um, working with people who, who were disadvantaged in some way, who weren't seen as equal, uh, um, who may be seen as something to be pitied versus, you know, people who, um, had real opportunity and highly intelligent and a lot of drive and ambition, but the opportunity wasn't there for them.

And I, and I think that has what has continued to be my driver in the sector, finding the opportunities for, um, for people to see their full potential, whether that's adults with disabilities or whether it's children.

It's about where are those opportunities and how do you give people access to those so that they can reach their full potential, and that's always been what's driven me in the sector.

You're listening to an RNIB Connect Radio podcast.

RNIB's See Cymru Differently project has been helping blind and partially sighted people feel welcome, connected and confident in the outdoors.

The project's leader, Gareth Davis, was recently recognised for the outstanding and important work that is being done in the space.

I'm pleased to say that Gareth joins me now.

Gareth, close and all, welcome back to RNIB Connect Radio.

Good morning.

Thank you very much.

What was the experience like attending in person, Gareth?

You're listening to an RNIB Connect Radio podcast.

You're listening to The Happy Hour on RNIB Connect Radio.

Each November, Men's Health Awareness Month draws attention to the physical and mental health challenges affecting men across the UK.

Now, today we're joined by Mark from Beyond Limits, a life coach, to speak a little bit about his work as a life coach and public speaker and also his raising awareness of living with RP.

There's quite often some funny videos on there.

There's some, you know, more life affirming stuff.

And there's little bits about what I'm up to and what I'm trying to do to raise money for RNIB and also Guide Dogs.

Perfect.

You're listening to an RNIB

Connect Radio podcast.

Time to catch up again with Vidar Yarding, MBE Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for another audio described theatre review here on RNIB Connect Radio.

Hi Vidar and hope all's well with you.

Very good and good to be back with you and sharing another audio described review with listeners.

We do.

So looking forward to sharing that with you and listeners next time we speak, Toby.

Well, as always, thank you very much indeed, Vida, for sharing your audio described review of Matthew Bourne's The Carmen at the Birmingham Lithodrome with me here on RNIB Connect Radio.

We'll catch up with you again soon.

But thanks for joining us on RNIB Connect Radio.

Thanks, Alan.