RNIB Northern Ireland

11/10/2026

On World Sight Day this week our intrepid Derry campaigner Rory was on air with now good friend Mark Patterson and also made Mark rather emotional by presenting him with this year's 'Derry City Champion' accolade in helping making the city a 'Visually Aware Space'.🤩

Listen again to their catch up discussing all things living with sight loss here and looking after your eyes.👏

We're very thankful for his support in covering local events and issues over the years, including our latest Tech Fair in Derry in February.

Your voice matters and can make a difference too.

If you'd like to get involved in RNIB's campaigning and influencing work, contact [email protected]

Derry marks World Sight Day 2026 - we speak to the local branch of RNIB.

10/10/2026

While it is possible to live a full and independent life as a blind or partially sighted person, you may come across difficulties at any point in your journey and find a little bit of support helpful.

Did you know RNIB runs a series of emotional support groups for anyone experienced sight loss, or are blind or partially sighted?

These groups are facilitated by a qualified counsellor and provide a confidential and therapeutic space where you can receive support from a professional and others with a similar eye condition or life experience.

Each group runs on teams with audio format only for eight weeks, with a maximum of seven participants, ensuring plenty of time to connect and be supported.

The following groups are available to join:

-Charles Bonnet Syndrome Group
-Retinitis Pigmentosa Group
-Seeking Employment Group
-Staying in Employment Group
-Sight loss after stroke Group
-Glaucoma Group
-Age-related Macular Degeneration Group
-Diabetes and Sight loss group
-Seeing it through groups - this group is open to anyone experiencing sight loss.
-Friends and Family group

You can register interest in joining a group by contacting our coordinator and counsellor: [email protected] , or call via our Helpline on 0303 123 9999

We're here for you.


Image description: Graphic with white writing on pink background. Title:RNIB Emotional Support Groups and bullet points: Age-related macular degeneration;diabetes and sight loss; friends and family group;sight loss after stroke;and more... Subheading:Join today and receive support from a professional and others with a similar eye condition or life experience. Three small images to left and right including:outline of eye, outline of hand using glucose monitor to test drop of blood on finger, and group of 5 people in a circle with two speech bubbles above their heads

08/10/2026

What a World Sight Day we had today!

We are delighted to announce Bangor man Ken Carson as our new RNIB Ambassador for the Ards and North Down area at a special event in Bangor Castle updating on our partnership work in making Ards and North Down Borough Council the first 'Visually Aware Borough' in Northern Ireland.🤩

Ken shared an inspiring speech, highlighting the vital importance of peer support groups, activities, support in grieving sight, building back independence, and walking through doors that open due to support from organisations like RNIB, in enabling him to live such a full life today.

Ken said, "People are thriving now because of the power of people. Losing your sight is a grieving process. I need that vital peer to peer support to get where I am today."

Visually impaired Derry campaigner Rory McCartney was on the airwaves talking about life with sight loss after stroke, and presented BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson live on air with this year's 'Derry City Champion' accolade - recognising Mark's support for local people with sight loss and RNIB in raising awareness over the past number of years, ever since that first 'lifechanging' cup of tea with Rory before he walked him across busy streets blindfolded.👏 (Listen to Mark's emotional reaction in link in comments)

Our staff were also representing the interests of local blind and partially sighted people at two key conferences with local government and health and social care professionals:

Mary Alice and Gillian were at for Day 2 of speaking with our healthcare professionals, charity partners, and government health officials.
Gillian Clifford (RNIB NI's NHS Engagement Manager) said, "We've had great conversations over the two days sharing our 'See It Our Way' guidelines raising awareness of best practice in interacting with blind or partially sighted people in healthcare settings, and hope to see these shared across our Allied health professional networks here."

RNIB NI Policy and Campaigns Manager Paula Beattie was over at the conference today where discussion took place on the future of local councils, co-design policies and reform. Our message of the critical need for the lived experience of people living with vision impairment and the importance of accessibility, was discussed with regards to planning for all community based initiatives.

If you'd like to find out about how to get involved with RNIB's activities or campaigning in Northern Ireland, call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected]

07/10/2026

RNIB NI is exhibiting at today and tomorrow at .
If you're here, come say hello to us at stand number 42.

Promotional graphic for the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care at NICON26. Text reads: "RESET for All: Action by All. NICON26 Conference. We're exhibiting at NICON26. 7th and 8th October, La Mon Hotel." The graphic includes conference branding and abstract network-style purple and teal dots and lines.

06/10/2026

Have you booked your demo of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses available from RNIB?
Do more at home and out and about with these AI-enabled smart glasses that can read text, identify objects, answer questions, and send and receive messages.
Available now from RNIB so contact our Products and Advice Centre team in NI today to arrange your demo via phone, video call or at a venue near you.
Image shows a man sitting down, wearing a pair of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, reading a menue.

04/10/2026

Ever tried Visually Impaired Cricket?
If you live in the North West, or are prepared to travel, you can try VI Cricket next Wednesday (7 October) at the Foyle Arena in Derry.
The session takes place from 11.30am to 1pm. Just contact Molly Devine by email to: [email protected] or phone: 07719155511.

There's also Snow Tubing and indoor climbing opportunities coming up this moth as well as walking and reading groups and everything in between and they're taking place all over NI! Check out the events calendar here and see what you could try next:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/northern-ireland/rnib-ni-in-your-community/

This is an image of a white, audible cricket ball

03/10/2026

The weekends are the best time to catch up on those podcasts!
In Episode 11 of the RNIB NI Podcast, RNIB Country Director in Northern Ireland Robert Shilliday, talks to Joe Kenny about why RNIB NI are on the move from the Victoria House office on Gloucester Street in Belfast and are now on a mission to find a new and improved Belfast office space. Our Policy and Campaigns Manager Paula Beattie updates us on some of what’s been keeping her team busy over the last month. Finally, Joe catches up with fellow music artists Andrea Begley and Paula Stevenson AKA Future Her, ahead of their big gig ‘Label Me Live’ at the Black Box Belfast, part of this year’s Bounce Arts Festival.
If it matters to people affected by sight loss, then it matters to us.
If you have feedback for the team or have an idea for future content, just email: [email protected]
https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/northern-ireland/welcome-to-the-rnib-ni-podcast/
# Image shows podcast host Joe Kenny sitting in a recording studio with the text 'Search and subscribe to the RNIB NI Podcast.

02/10/2026

We were celebrating Positive Aging yesterday in Newry!

Pauline, Owen and Arnold who are involved with our Newry activities did a fabulous job sharing what was available for anyone affected by sight loss at our stand at the Quays shopping centre fair.

Alongside Gervais McCartan from Talking Newspapers, they even caught up with Siobhan Casey, NI's Commissioner for Older People.

Knowing Pauline and Owen there was bound to be plenty of talk of tech and never being afraid to try something new!

Want to find out 'what's on your doorstep'? Contact us on 0303 123 9999 or check out our October Events and Activities programme via our website

01/10/2026

Our Policy and Campaigns team got the opportunity to share our ambitions for a more accessible and inclusive Northern Ireland at the UUP conference on Saturday.

Our central theme is ‘Breaking down Barriers’ to an accessible society.

Our asks include:
- Giving safety for pedestrians the same priority as cycling with Endorsement of RNIB’s call for a ‘Walking (and Wheeling) Strategy’ to be embedded within The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) Active Travel Delivery Plan
- Increased efforts in ending avoidable sight loss
- Inclusive education as a priority
- Removing obstacles to economic independence

We want to ensure lived experience is intrinsic to the design, delivery and evaluation of key government social inclusion policies and initiatives underpinning social change.

If you're interested in contributing to our campaigning work, or have a query on a difficulty you're facing, you can reach us at [email protected]

Image description: RNIB NI's Colum Delaney and NI Minister for Health Robbie Butler at the UUP Conference. They are holding the pink RNIB Breaking Down Barriers placard and smiling

30/09/2026

From dry slope skiing, VI cricket and blind golf to visits to Museums, Read Aloud in libraries and VI Brunch groups, there’s a whole host of events and activities waiting for you in our October programme and you know the best bit? Our entire programme of events and activities are designed with peer support and confidence building throughout.
Just get in touch with us to register or private message on here.
Image shows: Kelley Rushton from Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council watching a group enjoying sailing in a boat on the water.
https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/northern-ireland/rnib-ni-in-your-community/