Transcript of Audio of Connect Magazine Issue 12 February 2017

Transcript of audio of Connect Magazine – Issue 12 – February 2017

SPEAKERS

PC: Padma Cheriyan AS: Alec Sabin NB: Nicky Barranger EC: Emily Coleman KN: Karen Newell JN: Jason Noble S: Stephen MT: Maxine Turkington LC: Leanne Coyle I: Ibra EE: Emma Elvin EB: Emily Berry KP: Karen Preece JE: June Edwards V: Voiceover

[piano music]

V: RNIB – supporting people with sight loss.

PC: Hello, and welcome to your audio version of the February edition of Connect, your community magazine. I’m Padma Cheriyan. I live in Milton Keynes. I have cone dystrophy with macular degeneration. In this month’s edition, we are bringing you some essential healthy eating advice, tips for living well on a low budget, and you will be hearing more from me on a unique service that we call Milton Keynes Reader Service. Stay tuned to find out more. Here is Alec and Nicky with what else is coming up.

NB: Well, thanks, Padma, and what a lovely way to start the programme.

AS: Yes, and this is Connect magazine, which goes out to members of the RNIB Connect community across the UK, and brings together everyone affected by sight loss, and that means you, people close to you, and your supporters.

1 NB: And this, the audio version of Connect magazine is doing just that, through sharing voices, experiences, stories and tips from our community. Perhaps you have a story to share as well. Stay tuned for details of how to get involved.

AS: But first, coming up in this edition of Connect, we’ll be hearing from a blind children’s entertainer.

NB: We’re bringing you the latest advice on healthy eating for managing and preventing diabetes.

AS: You’ll be hearing more from Padma on a reading service for blind people in Milton Keynes.

NB: And a Connect community member is revealing her top tips for living well on a low budget.

AS: All that and lots more in this, the February edition of Connect magazine.

NB: A pioneering drive by Edinburgh City Council to make its libraries more accessible to people with sight loss has won a prestigious award. The City Council’s Visually Impaired People’s Service, which is integrated throughout the city’s 28 public libraries, clinched the 2016 Gold Excellence Award for tackling inequalities and improving health, from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The service was designed in consultation with RNIB Scotland, Edinburgh Macular Degeneration Society, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, to meet all of the six steps to improving access to UK library services.

AS: If you’re an ‘Eastenders’ fan, you’ll know that one of the main characters is losing her sight. Dot Branning, played by the actress June Brown, was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration or AMD late last year. RNIB has been pivotal in the development of this storyline, working closely with BBC scriptwriters to ensure the condition is portrayed in a realistic way. Emily Coleman from RNIB explains.

EC: The eye health team has been such a huge help. They’ve been absolutely invaluable. They’ve checked whether the facts are right, even the tone is right, or the way that the GP or the ophthalmologist is delivering. So there was a scene, and Dot is looking at her hallway, and you can see that she’s got a black spot in the middle of where she’s looking, and then around that is distorted. So again, we sent that over to RNIB’s eye health team and they had a look at that and gave some feedback. So they’ve been a huge, huge help.

NB: Now, any parent will know how important play is to children, but if your child is blind or partially sighted, well you might have to put a bit more thought into playtimes. A new guide to help you is at hand. It’s called ‘Let’s play’ and is free to download from the RNIB website. Whether you’re a parent, teacher or carer of a child with a vision impairment, the guide will help you create safe and fun spaces to help them develop and explore their senses. One chapter of the

2 guide is on representative toys. Karen Newell, who is mum to vision-impaired Fred and co-authored the guide, tells us more.

KN: If you don’t see yourself in toys, then it’s truly excluding you, because seeing a toy with glasses or a guide dog can really help you grow your positive self- esteem. So what we wanted to try and do was look through all of the toys available and see what was out there, and unfortunately there’s not a lot. We’ve put in what we can, so we’re promoting through ‘Toy like me’ for toy manufacturers to create more really groovy and interesting representative toys.

NB: You can download ‘Let’s play’ for free at rnib.org.uk/play.

AS: Now, what does your white cane mean to you?

NB: Well, from our conversations in the community, we know it means many things. For some, it’s a love-hate relationship and there are as many thoughts on canes as Connect community members who use them. But you’ve told us that ultimately, it provides independence. We also know that the white cane and particularly different types of canes still remain a bit of a mystery to the general public. So RNIB has made a film to help raise awareness, and you can check it out, along with blogs and lots more at rnib.org.uk/caneexplained. Also, tune into RNIB Connect Radio for stories and thoughts from your community on explaining the cane.

AS: Now, if you have age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts, you’re likely to notice some changes in the way you receive treatment, and that’s because NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – is planning on rewriting the guidelines. If you have any of these three conditions, RNIB is urging you to speak up about how your experiences can be improved.

NB: Whether it’s about the amount of time it takes to get an appointment, the information you’re given or any aspect of your treatment, it’s important that these decision-makers know what matters to you. Find out how to get your voice heard at rnib.org.uk/yoursayyourtreatment.

AS: For up-to-the-minute news, tune into the Early Edition on RNIB Connect Radio. Allan Russell and the team will guide you through the front, back and inside pages of the UK’s major newspapers, and that’s on weekdays at 7:00am till 10:00am.

Your Voice.

NB: Yes, it’s that time again. Your Voice is your chance to talk directly to other members of the Connect community. First, we’re hearing from a young man who has a very fun job indeed.

JN: Hello there. My name is Jason Noble and I am a registered blind magician and children’s entertainer, known through Surrey as ‘Jase the Ace’. I have been running my business for the past two and a half years, and it is based in a

3 place called East Molesey, which is just across the river from Hampton Court in Surrey.

I spend nearly every weekend entertaining at birthday parties, weddings, christenings, for children aged between two and eight years old. Each show that I do is custom-designed with different magic tricks to suit the age range of the children, and it really is a fantastic way to earn a living. My wonderful wife, Hannah, helps me at these parties, as obviously, with my eyesight I struggle somewhat with getting to venues, and some of the organisation.

I got into magic when I was five years old, and before becoming a primary school teacher, which is what I do full-time, I actually worked in Hamley’s on Regent Street, the world’s biggest toy shop, as a magician.

I feel one of the reasons that we’re so popular around Surrey is actually the fact that I have a disability – not that that is always apparent to people that book me, but I feel that it’s given me the ability to empathise with children, and especially if there are children at the parties with certain extra needs, I can cope with that, I think, far better than someone who hasn’t had to live with that their entire lives.

To most people, it would probably seem strange that there’s a registered blind man performing magic and entertaining 30+ children of a weekend, but for me it’s something that comes naturally. I was born, I feel, to entertain people, and obviously I’ve grown up with my visual impairment, so I know exactly what I can and cannot do.

The best thing about being a children’s entertainer is the looks on the faces of the children when they’re sat watching what I’m doing. I really do have the best seat in the house, and it’s one of the things that keeps me going back to entertaining children, week in, week out.

AS: And if you’d like to get in touch with Jason, you can catch him on Facebook. Just search for ‘Jase the Ace’ or email [email protected]. And by the way, that’s ‘Jase’ with an ‘s’.

Next, we’re going to hear just a snippet of one man’s story, and it starts when he got his dream job of becoming a butler.

S: Hello, my name’s Stephen. I’m from a tiny island just off the north Wales coast, and I’m as blind as a bat. I was a butler for many years with European royalty, who turned out to be Prince William’s godfather. It was an amazing life. It was just sort of like basically meeting different members of European royalty. Every day was different. I used to get to hear things that I couldn’t divulge now, and everything was just amazing about it. There was a lot of sort of like media exposure at the time, because I actually had a grant from the Prince’s Trust, and at the time there was talk of me becoming Prince Charles’s next valet, but unfortunately that didn’t come to fruition, but then it’s sort of like, six weeks of being followed around every single day by a TV crew and going on live TV, being in different magazines that were circulated around the world and just

4 loads and loads of press, I’d actually gained employment with a Saudi Arabian prince. I was actually attacked when I was out one afternoon, and quite severely beaten up – I was in hospital for three months, and one of my eyes was badly damaged and it was really not a very nice time in my life, to actually have an amazing job, an amazing career in front of me and then just to have that all taken away within minutes. My employers kept the position open for me, but because of my eyesight, they had to unfortunately let me go.

My life was a bit horrible to begin with. I had to move back to my parents in Wales from London. Basically, I made a choice that being blind was not going to define who I am, and I wouldn’t let it change me as a person, because I’ve still got one hell of a sense of humour and I even laugh at myself, and that’s one thing that I think that’s kept me going is my sense of humour through all this – that I can actually make other people smile. Don’t ever give up on yourself.

NB: Thanks to both Jason and Stephen for taking part in Your Voice this month. If you or anyone you know would benefit from advice or support at any stage of your sight loss journey, from emotional support to help with employment, the helpline is on hand to assist. This month’s contributors will each receive a talking calendar clock – that’s a Communiclock from the RNIB Shop. And if you’d like to take part in Your Voice, do get in touch. Listen out for our contact details at the end of the programme.

AS: Living well on a low budget.

It’s a sad fact that every day, life can be pretty expensive, with food to buy, bills to pay and places to be – it can all add up. One in five people whom we spoke to as part of our My Voice report said they have some or great difficulty in making ends meet. There are lots of ways we can save money – sometimes a little extra thought can make a big difference in your pocket. Connect team member Leanne Coyle spoke to Maxine Turkington, who’s been blind for 30 years. She kindly agreed to share some tips for living well on a low budget.

MT: My policy is – never pay full price for anything unless you can help it. And this applies not only to personal effects, so to speak, but also to giving gifts. As far as food is concerned, it’s a mistake, I think, when people have things delivered, so they have no control of the quality, of getting the right food, or for looking for special deals. So the way I get over that is to go to the same supermarket all the time, and make friends with the people – they see me coming, they know I need help, and they point out what’s on offer.

LC: A lot of blind and partially sighted people do have their food shopping delivered to their door because it’s easier, but are you saying that actually you could end up saving money?

MT: But it’s also more expensive. You’re much better off and save a lot of money if you go, get help, and either go with somebody sighted or as I do, go to the same store so they know me, they greet me, they walk around with me, and tell me which are the best offers for things.

5 LC: So that covers that aspect of things. Well, blind and partially sighted people can receive a certain amount of benefits. What would be your advice around that?

MT: The advice is – as soon as you’re diagnosed, call RNIB to find out what your benefits will be, and so you’ll find out that there are some that you’ve never even known about, and you can save an awful lot of money. But also, what I do is get rid of the – with phone companies, with electric companies, and they have a special department which deals with disability of any kind, and they’ll give you the best rates – sometimes there’s a discount – and you’ll get better service if you have a problem with your phone or anything else.

LC: What you’re talking about right now is very helpful – it’s called the Priority Services Register, for anyone who wants to enquire about that, and it’s with any gas or electric company. You just phone them up and enquire. What about mobility, for example? Getting around can be expensive. Do you have any tips.

MT: Yes, some people use taxis, which I try not to, but occasionally am forced to. You can actually get – I think it’s a taxi card, which gives you a discount, but you can only get that if you’re receiving two benefits. Also, sometimes on your council tax, if you have a room that’s devoted to equipment pertaining to your disability, you will get a break on your council tax. But also, I’m a great believer in living life up to the utmost – going to the theatre and cinema. A friend would be very happy to give you a lift and go with you to see a play or a film, and not only will they get two-for-one, because basically you pay and then the person who accompanies you is free, because you can’t go on your own. So what we do is split the price, so we each go for half price, and if they drive there, they have use of your blue badge, as long as you’re with them, so they can park free and on double yellow lines.

LC: Listen, all of the tips you’ve given today, Maxine, have been great, and they all require a certain amount of assertion. I mean, some people might feel a bit shy. What would you say to them?

MT: That is a very important point. Some people are shy – they don’t want to tell people, they don’t want to ask for help, but that’s silly, because people in general are very, very helpful and they enjoy being helpful.

NB: Many thanks to Maxine Turkington. And you can find out more about half-price cinema tickets and cheaper travel on the concessions page of the RNIB website. Visit rnib.org.uk/concessions. Contact your local council to find out more about council tax breaks, and if you have a local theatre, do give them a call to find out if you’re entitled to any concessions.

Eating well to manage diabetes.

AS: The number of people with diabetes in the UK has tipped over the 4 million mark. It’s a disease that can lead to many complications, including sight loss.

6 We’re going to bring you the latest advice on how to avoid the condition in a moment, but first, let’s hear from a Connect member who changed his lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.

I: My name is Ibra. I was 23 when I was diagnosed with diabetes. When I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy when I was 37, it hit me really hard. The thought of losing my sight really got to me. I was seriously overweight and I had to do something positive. I had to do something to change and control whatever occurred about my diabetes, about my eyesight. I had a lot of people depending upon myself.

I took a look at my diet. The traditional Asian diet – we tend to use a lot of ghee, a lot of butter, a lot of oil within our cooking on a daily basis. I’ve taken to substituting the ghee, the butter with olive oil. I measure the oil out, make sure it’s enough to cook my meals, rather than just pouring it. I make sure I have control over that. I use a lot of herbs and spices, as we normally do in Asian cooking, to substitute the salt. I still have a sweet tooth, and my wife will make some traditional Matai, some sweet rice, but I have it in moderation.

NB: Well done to Ibra for keeping on top of his condition. Well now, let’s get some advice from Diabetes UK. Leanne Coyle spoke to Emma Elvin, who’s a clinical advisor from the organisation.

EE: There’s two main types of diabetes – you’ve got type 1 diabetes, where your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin at all, and that means that you have really high levels of blood glucose, and then you have type 2 diabetes, which is where your pancreas may be producing some insulin, but perhaps not as much as it used to. Your organs aren’t able to take up the insulin quite as well as they used to be, and that can be linked to being overweight and having fat around your organs, like your liver and your pancreas.

LC: There is a well-established link between diabetes and sight loss. Which of the two is the one in question?

EE: It’s both. Both types of diabetes can lead to what we call retinopathy, which is the complication in your eyes that’s linked to blindness. All complications of diabetes aren’t just linked to high blood glucose levels. It’s also to do with your blood pressure and your blood cholesterol.

LC: So someone has to have diabetes in order to get diabetic retinopathy, so what I really want to know from you is – how do we avoid getting diabetes?

EE: Type 1 diabetes unfortunately, because we’re not entirely sure what causes it, we can’t prevent it, but with type 2 diabetes, there are lots of risk factors that can potentially lead to a diagnosis of diabetes, some of which are out of our control, so things like our genetic background, our family history, but some things we can control, so our lifestyle factors, particularly being overweight, having a large waist and a sedentary lifestyle are big risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

7 As a whole population, whether we have diabetes or not, we should all be aiming for a healthy, balanced diet, and that’s one that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein, and is low in fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.

LC: So let’s talk about diet, then. You have a wealth of information, in fact, under the umbrella term of ‘Enjoy food’ – so what are some of the real big key points that you’d put out there?

EE: The latest data is showing us that as a population, we’re not eating enough fruit and vegetables and we know that they provide us with lots of important vitamins and minerals and fibre, so we really need to be trying to increase our intake of fruit and vegetables. We need to be trying to choose whole grains as our carbohydrates over refined sources of carbohydrate, and thinking about our portion sizes as well are really important, and also trying to reduce our total fat intake, our intake of saturated fats and also our intake of salt and added sugars. Added sugars have now got a new name, which is ‘free sugars’, and that’s anything that’s added to products and also syrups, honey and fruit juices.

LC: So even those these are purely natural products, these are a problem?

EE: Honey, as you say, it is a natural product – there’s actually no evidence that it is any different from any type of sugar, and it doesn’t have any additional health benefits. It will raise your blood sugar levels in just the same way. And fruit juice – because it’s sort of broken down the juices extracted, the sugar within that juice then becomes a type of free sugar, because it’s not contained within the structure of the fruit anymore. So although it can still provide important vitamins and minerals, we need to be limiting our intake to no more than one small glass a day, 150 mL.

NB: And if you’d like more information on eating well and some recipe ideas, whether you have diabetes or not, visit diabetes.org.uk and check out the ‘Enjoy food’ section. If you’d like more information on diabetes in an alternative format, call the RNIB Helpline.

AS: Interview with writing competition judge, Emily Berry.

Our writing competition may now be closed, but we’re continuing to bring you a fascinating insight into the writer’s mind. We spoke to Emily Berry, who’s judging this year’s poetry category.

EB: I write about personal sort of emotions, relationships, yeah – it’s always very hard to describe the type of poetry that I write, I think.

LC: It doesn’t seem to – as far as I know anyway – it doesn’t seem to conform to any conventions. It can be quite playful at times. How do you think this, or what do you hope this adds to the reader’s experience?

EB: My main, initial aim is to kind of please myself, so I’m like the main reader I have in mind, and I guess I like things to be playful. I sort of feel like even the

8 dark stuff of life can be funny, and it is an interesting contrast with kind of sadness – and yeah, and how it comes out, I don’t really sort of think about it very much, to be honest.

LC: So you’ve actually made a decision to voice up some of your poems, which is great for, if you think about it, our listeners who are blind or partially sighted. But do you think listening to your poem audibly as opposed to reading it – especially with hearing your voice reading it – do you think people would experience that differently?

EB: Yeah. I mean, I would hope that the audio sort of experience of the poem would be a sort of key aspect of it. Although it lives on a page, it’s something that, I suppose kind of also lives in like sound and music, the kind of rhythm of the voice. It’s just like slightly different experiences that are both equally valid, I think.

LC: And you’re judging the RNIB writing competition this year, so what would you be looking for in a poem?

EB: Well, I like poems that surprise me in some way – I mean, not poems that set out to be kind of deliberately surprising, but that use language in an unexpected way. I like poems that are moving. Something with a bit of edge, I guess, and mystery – I just sort of wait for the poem to introduce itself to me, and if the introduction kind of takes me in a direction I wasn’t expecting, then that’s always a good thing.

LC: You’re the editor of ‘Poetry review’. Would you advise people to get it? Is it a publication for people who are looking to be inspired by others?

EB: Yeah, well I’d certainly hope so. I’ve literally just started the job, so my first issue appears in March – I’m working on it at the moment, and I’ve been, obviously, reading the magazine for many years, and I think it’s a great place to start if you’re looking to delve into poetry magazines. And we do have some audio content online, so there are podcasts, where people read poems and are interviewed, and I’m hoping to kind of develop that aspect of the magazine so there’s more stuff for people who maybe aren’t able to access the kind of printed aspect of the magazine.

LC: What are you working on at the moment?

EB: I’ve got a book due out in February – my second collection, called ‘Stranger, Baby’ – so people can look out for that.

LC: Good luck with the new book, ‘Stranger, Baby’, and good luck with judging the entries of the RNIB writing competition.

EB: Thank you. I’m looking forward to reading the poems.

NB: And thank you for all your entries. As Alec just said, the competition is now closed, but we’re working through the entries and will be meeting up with our

9 judging panel soon to review them. Winners will be announced in May, so if you entered, good luck.

AS: Milton Keynes reading group.

Now, if you’re blind or partially sighted, you’ll know that most kinds of paperwork can pose a major problem, and for those living in Milton Keynes, there’s a charity that can help, but it does much more than simply support people with sight loss with everyday tasks. Here’s Connect team member Leanne Coyle with more.

LC: The MK Reader Service was set up in 1988, to support people in gaining equal access to information, and this covers a multitude of services, from filling in forms to answering letters, and from shopping to playing scrabble. Karen Preece began volunteering for a blind society after her mother was diagnosed with macular degeneration 15 years ago. She then went on to become one of the coordinators at the MK Reader Service.

KP: Quite frankly, I love it, because I meet fabulous people. Our service users have come from all spectrums of life and they can be of any age, from 18 – our oldest lady is 95. And it’s a joy to go and visit them and hear about their past lives and what their interests have been, and then take along a volunteer who I know will then mix well with them. The volunteers that we see – most of them are retired or maybe they’ve got children of school age, and they have a range of interests and hobbies, and hopefully once we’ve got this match, we know that this sort of relationship between the service user and volunteer will last for years. I think the longest one we’ve got running at the moment is people that have been seeing each other for 20 years. Everybody realises they’re part of quite a big organisation. I think we’ve got about 240 people altogether, and we’re growing continuously.

LC: So it seems Karen and the other coordinators have a job on their hands, but standards certainly aren’t slipping – as service June Edwards will testify. Karen matched her with volunteer Geraldine a few years back, and the rest is history.

JE: We have to give a little summary of ourselves, and as Geraldine happened to be saying – she was saying where she had worked – and it turned out she worked with my daughter in the same office. So what a coincidence. And of course, we had a mutual interest straight away. Also, I found with Geraldine – I had terrible trouble trying to sort my bills and things out, and she very kindly went all through and sorted out all the old stuff that we really didn’t want anymore, but then also made me a folder with big writing in, with telephone numbers and also the dates of when insurance was due and important dates, which was so much better for me, because at least I could keep control, and now of course, she has become more of a friend, because she comes every week and then we get straight down to doing any correspondence, then we – well, we always have a coffee and a biscuit, then we talk over the local topics and news and family. I don’t know what I would do without her.

10 LC: And June isn’t the only service user who finds the charity a real lifeline. Connect member Padma Cheriyan was the one who got in touch with us originally to shine a light on the great work they carry out.

PC: I have been using the Milton Keynes Reader Service ever since I lost my sight 20 years ago. The Milton Keynes Reader Service does far more than just send a reader to me, to read to me. When I want to go to the theatre, I have somebody to go with, when I want to attend an evening class to learn a language, learn some cookery classes, I have somebody, a volunteer to help me there. I think most importantly, Milton Keynes Reader Service helps me to be independent, not to depend on my family and contribute to the community – that is essential – and do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I thoroughly recommend the service because it is not just a volunteer coming to you – it is a friend and a confidant coming to you.

NB: That was Connect member, Padma Cheriyan, ending that report on the MK Reader Service in Milton Keynes. And if you live in the area and would like to find out more about the charity, call 01908 231 123 or email [email protected]. And perhaps you’d like to shine a light on an excellent local service in your area. Do get in touch.

AS: Advertisements.

Please note that advertisements are placed by organisations independent of RNIB and including them does not mean that RNIB has endorsed the products and services they offer.

NB: NAIDEX is coming to Birmingham in March 2017. NAIDEX is Europe’s biggest trade, professional and consumer show dedicated to the care, rehabilitation and lifestyle of people with a disability or impairment. On 28-30 March 2017, NAIDEX will be flooding the Birmingham NEC for three unforgettable days of innovation, information, cutting edge supplies and the most inspirational speakers from around the world. With dedicated zones ensuring inclusion and innovation throughout, RNIB are thrilled to proudly sponsor NAIDEX’s vision – the only zone dedicated to visual impairment and blindness. One of the most progressive zones of the show, NAIDEX’s Vision, will showcase cutting edge technology, products and services, to support the visually impaired, along with leading speakers and one-to-one advice. Returning for its 43rd year, NAIDEX 2017 is set to be the biggest and most successful show yet, and it’s completely free to attend. Register for your free ticket at naidex.co.uk and be at the forefront of progression in visual impairment and blindness.

AS: Sight and Sound presents breakthrough artificial vision technology with Orcam, the world’s most advanced wearable assistive technology solution. Orcam contains a miniature smart camera which sits on the frame of your glasses. This converts visual information into spoken word. Orcam reads any printed text on any surface, instantly relaying it to the user through a built-in mini speaker. Useful for reading newspapers, books, computer screens, restaurant menus, labels on supermarket products, street signs and much more. Prices are from £1,800.

11 NB: The Ruby 7 HD is the newest addition to the popular Ruby line of handheld video magnifiers. This model has a large screen, high definition image and enhanced functionality to meet the needs of today’s low vision consumers. The unique PivotCam rotating camera offers a wide range of viewing modes. It’s simple to learn how to use the Ruby 7 HD, and you can use the built-in tilt stand to read books, magazines and mail. The Ruby 7 HD combines convenience and flexibility, as the leader in the next generation of handheld video magnifiers. Available at a special price of £649, normal RRP £995.

AS: For more information or to arrange a free in-home demo, call Sight and Sound on 01604 798 070 or email [email protected]. Sight and Sound – seeing is believing.

Humanware introduces interest-free credit across the entire product range. You could spread the cost of a new device from Humanware by taking advantage of new interest-free credit, with approval in just 60 seconds. Simple, safe and secure, you’re just three easy steps away from owning a product which will enhance your life, and you won’t pay one penny extra to take advantage of interest-free credit.

NB: Some examples of products and what you could pay include: the Explore 5 portable magnifier is £409 including delivery. Spread the cost over a year with 12 payments, from £34.08 each month. Prodigi desktop 20-inch magnifier is £2,010 including delivery. Spread the cost over a year with 12 payments, from £167.50 each month. AS: Visit humanware.com or call freephone 0800 587 2589 for more information, or to arrange a free demonstration. Humanware – see things differently.

NB: RNIB information directory.

Here’s a directory to help you get the information and services you need from RNIB more easily. You can call the RNIB Connect team on 0303 123 4555. They can also help if you’d like to update the format in which you receive Connect magazine, or if you have a story to share. Send us a letter to Connect Magazine, RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/connect.

AS: Get in touch. Speak to the helpline to get eye health information, emotional support benefits advice and product information. Call 0303 123 9999, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/ask. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5:30pm and calls cost no more than a standard rate call to an 01 or 02 number.

Join RNIB Library. It’s free to sign up and you can choose from thousands of titles in the format of your choice, including talking books, Braille or giant print. Call the helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit rnib.org.uk/books.

Get involved with fundraising. Call 0345 345 0054. Email fundraising at rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/donate.

12 To volunteer, call 01733 375 450, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/volunteering.

And campaign on the issues that matter to you and sign up for our campaigns update. Call 020 7391 2123, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/campaigning.

NB: Well, that’s nearly all for this month, but we’d like to say that this magazine wouldn’t be possible without you – members of the RNIB Connect community. So if there’s anyone you know who’d benefit from becoming part of the community, then let them know that it’s free to join, and all they have to do is to speak with the Connect team on 0303 123 4555 or just visit rnib.org.uk/connect. Yeah, it’s that easy.

AS: Well, thanks for listening to February’s edition of your Connect magazine, and Nicky, it’s been a pleasure.

NB: Likewise, Alec – it has been an absolute pleasure.

AS: So for now, it’s goodbye from me, Alec Sabin,

NB: And it’s goodbye from me, Nicky Barranger.

The content you’ve heard today has been developed with and by members of RNIB Connect. Thanks also to RNIB Connect Radio for their contributions. All information in this programme was correct at the time of recording. The audio producer for this edition is Leanne Coyle, studio engineer John Wakefield. Copyright RNIB 2017. Registered Charity Nos. 226227 and SC039316.

[piano music]

V: RNIB – supporting people with sight loss.

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