RNIB Northern Ireland

28/05/2026

The Toniebox is a soft but robust audio player designed for children from 12 months and up. Little ones simply place one of the Tonie characters on top of the box to listen to stories and songs.
Our Toniebox and Tonies range is now available from the RNIB Shop and in our Products and Advice Centres. We're also running a free prize draw to win a red Toniebox 2, Olaf Cuddle Tonie and a red Tonies backpack. No purchase necessary to enter; draw closes on Monday 1 June.
You can learn about these exciting new products on our blog https://shop.rnib.org.uk/blogs/news/is-a-toniebox-good-for-children-with-sight-loss
Enter the prize draw here:
https://shop.rnib.org.uk/blogs/news/win-a-tonies-prize-bundle-from-rnib-shop

Image shows from Left to right red Tonies case next to the red Tonies player with Olaf from Frozen in the middle and red Tonie character on the player.

27/05/2026

You can't beat a good night out to the theatre!
In a theatre show, audio description is vital in bringing the action to life for a blind or partially sighted person to get the full on-stage experience. Tomorrow Thursday, The Millennium Forum and RNIB NI are highlighting this important point to arts sector professionals at a special panel event held before the audio described performance of Miss Saigon as part of the venue’s 25th anniversary programme. If you are blind or partially sighted, there might be a couple of tickets left if you’re quick!
Our PR Manager Laura Cummings was on the Mark Patterson show on BBC Radio Foyle today sharing what the event’s all about ?
Listen again from 27 minutes. Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre BBC Radio Foyle

Celebrating History: Londonderry YMCA Launches Landmark Heritage Exhibit.

27/05/2026

We welcome this video from DFI Minister Liz Kimmins MLA. IN a recent survey, 77 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said that the behaviour of e-scooter riders makes them feel unsafe and 70% avoid paths shared with cyclists or e-scooters. People with sight loss, like all pedestrians, deserve to move around in safety and without anxiety.

25/05/2026

Gotta love a Bank Holiday! Just a reminder that RNIB offices are all closed today Monday, but we’re back to business tomorrow Tuesday.
Don’t forget our website, it’s got a load of useful info and resources if you have any questions or queries on sight loss or RNIB support.
www.rnib.org.uk/northernireland

If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

23/05/2026

Welcome to episode 8 of the RNIB Northern Ireland Podcast: Listen up, speak up, break down barriers.
We have now moved the podcast to its own channel on the host website Audioboom. This now means that you will have to follow or subscribe again. Just search for ‘RNIB Northern Ireland Podcast’ on your preferred podcast provider and follow or subscribe as directed. Oh yes, and if you wish to leave us a review, we’d love that too!
In this episode:
• Chair of Bangor SIGHT campaigning group, Ken Carson, shares his reaction to a local win as a pedestrian crossing is finally installed on a busy stretch of Bangor road.
• We hear from RNIB NI Products Co-Ordinator Louise Kenny on her plans for a regular product testing group.
• The RNIB NI campaigns update comes by way of Policy and Campaigns Manager Paula Beattie and Connect Radio
• And medical student come Marathon runner, Niamh Kenny, speaks to us about her Belfast City Marathon fundraising adventure. Graphic featuring image of RNIB’s Joe Kenny and Laura Cummings in the studio with text below: ‘Subscribe to the ‘RNIB Northern Ireland’ podcast today. Bullet points: Listen up. Speak up. Break down barriers. RNIB NI logo and app icons for Spotify, Audioboom and Apple podcasts

https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faudioboom.com%2Fposts%2F8901908&data=05%7C02%7CJoe.Kenny%40rnib.org.uk%7C913b8d002d9743a9a80008deaf5ce0c1%7C5d45337cd19243fcaa5805557c9171bc%7C0%7C0%7C639141010672327649%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2AqCnB70lbO%2F4p5OaExJaas8hMajrOwe%2BhO38WVaSeU%3D&reserved=0

22/05/2026

What about spending some time volunteering with us?
We have a great volunteer role to share and we’d love to welcome you to our team. From sighted guiding at events, to assisting at our walking groups and our thriving 18 to 35 social group.
Read more and apply via our website today. Link in comments

Image description: Graphic with two images: Image 1-Group of 9 young people 18-35. Image 2-Group of 6 people 30-70+ outside at recent event at Glenmore Trails. Text below reads: We’re looking for Peer Volunteers willing to be Sighted Guides at our activities in your local area - Apply today. RNIB Northern Ireland logo at bottom right.

21/05/2026

“I love the fact that as a performing musician, when I go to play in a venue and I play music, my sight loss or my disability doesn't matter.
People either like your music or they won't. And they base that on its own merit.”

When Joe Kenny Music isn’t working for RNIB Northern Ireland he’s writing, recording and releasing music. He gives us a glimpse into what it’s like to be a blind independent artist.

If you’d like to check out Joe’s music, you can find it on all major streaming platforms or visit his website at joekenny.net.

[Video description: Text reads: “Joe talks about releasing music as a blind musician.” Joe sits on the sofa with his acoustic guitar, playing with his capo in his hand. He has short, light brown hair and wears a blue jumper and jeans. Clips of Joe playing at venues appear throughout the video. In the first, he plays on-stage in front of a green curtain, wearing a white shirt and grey jeans. In the second, he plays and sings on-stage in front of a dark wood panelled wall in a traditional ale house, wearing a shirt and jeans. In the third he plays in a booth at an upmarket looking bar with a blossom tree inside. Joe plays his guitar with his hand over the top of the fretboard, rather than the traditional way of putting your fingers underneath. It’s pretty cool.]
'tCloseMeOut

20/05/2026

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is on the rise among children and young people in Northern Ireland. Early detection through regular eye tests is vital.👀🤓

A number of genetic and lifestyle factors are contributing to this trend, including:
🖥increased use of screens as part of everyday life, for work and leisure,
🏠much more time spent indoors, with less exposure to natural daylight, and
👨‍👩‍👧 an increased prevalence if one or both parents is myopic/short-sighted.

Parents and teachers can look out for the signs of myopia, which include:

• Difficulty reading at distance. This may manifest in squinting or sitting close to the television. Finding it difficult to read the whiteboard at school, holding books or devices close to their face.
• Rubbing their eyes or excessive blinking.
• Headaches

In Northern Ireland, children under 16, and 16–18-year-olds in full-time education, are entitled to free NHS sight tests.

While children are screened in their first weeks, at two years old, and in Primary 1, parents and carers must arrange a child’s sight tests after Primary 1.

Contact your local optometrist (optician), to arrange a test this Myopia Awareness Week (18 to 24 May).

*Research cited from Ulster University - The Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) Study

20/05/2026

Fantastic to attend the launch of NaviLens at Belfast Grand Central Station yesterday.
We know that for a person with sight loss, planning a journey can throw up a series of challenges along the way. To be met at Belfast Grand Central Station now with NaviLens way-finding system throughout goes a long way in removing any anxiety and worry about knowing where exactly you are and how to get from A to B. This can build confidence in travelling and so maintain independence. We’re delighted to have worked closely with all involved in the NaviLens project.

20/05/2026

Yesterday our Policy and Campaigns Manager Paula Beattie, attended the Launch of the Belfast Harbour Masterplan 2025-50.
We’re delighted to be part of the launch and early consultation on the ambitious transformation of the Belfast harbour zone. This includes opening up extensive space for residential, cultural and pedestrianised use in the Clarendon Wharf Area and major waterfront regeneration. It’s so Important that inclusivity and accessibility for people affected by sight loss is considered in this work from the very beginning.
The RNIB Policy and Campaigns team in NI have already submitted a response to the first phase of the consultation and are registered as consultees in this £1.3 billion investment by Belfast Harbour.
Photo shows an example image of the Clarendon Wharf/Waterfront regeneration, showing people enjoying new housing, shops, pedestrianised areas and pavement cafes.

16/05/2026

Welcome to episode 8 of the RNIB Northern Ireland Podcast: Listen up, speak up, break down barriers.
We have now moved the podcast to its own channel on the host website Audioboom. This now means that you will have to follow or subscribe again. Just search for ‘RNIB Northern Ireland Podcast’ on your preferred podcast provider and follow or subscribe as directed. Oh yes, and if you wish to leave us a review, we’d love that too!
In this episode:
• Chair of Bangor SIGHT campaigning group, Ken Carson, shares his reaction to a local win as a pedestrian crossing is finally installed on a busy stretch of Bangor road.
• We hear from RNIB NI Products Co-Ordinator Louise Kenny on her plans for a regular product testing group.
• The RNIB NI campaigns update comes by way of Policy and Campaigns Manager Paula Beattie and Connect Radio
• And medical student come Marathon runner, Niamh Kenny, speaks to us about her Belfast City Marathon fundraising adventure. BreakDownBarriers