Reflections from Torch Trust

Tony Brown has been acting Chair of Trustees for Torch for some time now. And in this episode, we get to know the man behind the role. He talks about how he got involved with Torch and shares some highlights of his recent cruise along the west coast of Africa.

Torch started out as a charity with the mission of providing blind and partially sighted people with accessible Christian literature and this is still at the heart of Torch's work. In this episode, we're going to hear what happens behind the scenes in the production department, whether it is Braille, giant print or audio.

This week we hear from the Archdeacon of Sefton and Knowsley, Rev Pete Spiers, who chats about his disability, identity, and reflects on his love of God, finding faith and the Easter story too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This one hour long Easter special dives into the sombre events of Good Friday and the joyous events of Easter Sunday through Bible readings by David Suchet, and Easter talks by Torch's Church Partnership Coordinator, and ordained vicar Vicki Bryson. We also hear from Phil Hanna, a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Ray Campbell who grew up in Jamaica about their Easter traditions, and what the crucifixion and resurrection mean to them.

In the Palm Sunday edition of Reflections, Torch's Church Partnership coordinator Vicki Bryson, who's also an ordained vicar, gives a talk on how shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday turned into shouts of “Crucify him” a few days later, and what Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday mean for us today.

In this episode of Reflections, we hear the fascinating story of Emily Owen, a Christian author who has had to learn to navigate the world with deafness after NF2A caused her hearing loss. She shares how becoming deaf has impacted how she worships God, and how her journey gave voice to her writing and the project she's currently working on.

This week we hear a special sermon from Rev Canon (Emeritus) Steph van der Toorn that explores the peaks and troughs of motherhood, and considers the struggles that so many can battle with too.

In this episode, we meet weight lifter Ines Higgins as well as park runner and volunteer Alison Evans who are both blind. They both share how they've found great communities through their fitness journeys and give some tips on how to get moving.

In this episode of Reflections, we take a closer look at healing, which is a controversial topic in the disabled community. We hear from blind priest Melissa Carter who gives us her take on the subject, and delve deeper into the story of the bleeding woman

In this week's episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about a new and exciting project where Torch will give cuddly toy lambs with a Jesus story book audioplayer embedded to blind and partially sighted children. We also hear the story book version of The Prodigal Son, read by David Suchet.

In this episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch's Becky Davies about what to expect for this year's online Lent group. We also hear an extract from At home in Lent by Gordon Giles, the book the group will be discussing.

In this episode, we hear from Vicki Bryson, Torch's new Church Partnerships coordinator, who talks about what she thinks may be some barriers to including blind and partially sighted people in Church. We also hear from Marie McCarroll who attended Torch's Northern Ireland convention.

This week we hear the second part of Hardeep Rai's story. And how he rebuilt his professional life after leaving finance and setting upkaleidoscope.group to help disabled people find meaningful work or start a business. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In 2006 Hardeep Rai was living a good life. He was at the pinnacle of his career in finance and he was about to become a dad. What he didn't know, was that the birth of his son Eshan, who was severely disabled, would turn his life in an unexpected direction, including becoming a Christian and starting an enterprise to help disabled people in work and business.

In this episode, we hear the second part of Linn's interview with blind sound engineer and musician Peter Bosher, who reflects on how faith inspires his music and talks about the Elizabeth Eagle-bott Memorial Fund, an exciting opportunity for blind and partially sighted musicians. We also get another teaser from Blind faith, Torch's newest podcast.

In this episode, Linn Davies interviews blind musician and sound engineer Peter Bosher, who shares how he got into working with sound. He also talks about sound without Sight, an initiative for blind musicians and sound makers. Visit soundwithoutsight.org to find out more. There's also a teaser from Torch's newest podcast Blind faith, which features stories of blind and partially sighted people To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

For many, January can feel like a long, cold month. So in this episode, we speak to laughter workshop leader Ian Macdonald about how we can incorporate more laughter in our lives.

In this episode, we hear all about the 2025 Torch holiday offerings. First we talk to Torch Together Coordinator Becky Davies about the locations and then to Colin and Lesley Palgrave about what it's like to be a guest on the holidays.

Braille was invented 200 years ago. And this episode looks at how Braille continues to be significant today both in the UK and abroad. New producer Linn Davies first talks to Jake Kyle from Compass Braille about the new NIV Braille Bible translation and then to Matthew Horspool about how Braille enables him to be part of Coventry Cathedral Choir.

Marilyn Baker sits down with Torch Trusts' Sheila Armstrong to chat about friendship and disability, and how the two go hand in hand.

Join Marilyn and the Torch Trust team as they bring you readings, messages and a Christmas special sermon. We're also joined by comedian Paul Kerensa for the tale behind one of the greatest Christmas songs too!

Podcasters, authors and social media starlets Jade and John Reynolds join Chris Byland to chat faith, disability and their latest book, Able To Laugh in this is the extended edition of Reflections.

The second part of our chat with Paul hears him chatting about eye sight, WW1, his book Hark! The Biography of Christmas and the history podcast, The British Broadcasting Century, and much more!

Paul Kerensa travels around the UK constantly on tour with his various shows, currently it's carols and comedians visiting churches which is a whole heap of fun and gets you in the mood for Christmas, but away from that he's written for top TV shows like Miranda, Not Going Out, Top Gear, TFI Friday, The Royal Variety Performance. Over the next couple of weeks, Paul chats with us about his health, faith and of course Christmas!

We hear once more from Fiona MacMillan, who shares with us her role within the Church of England's General Synod, and what it's doing to help churches become more disability aware.

This week on Reflections we hear from Fiona MacMillan, a member of the Church of England's general synod, trustee of Inclusive Church, and chair of the Disability Advisory Group at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

We hear from a charity that is on a mission to connect churches with people who have a learning disability by breaking down the barriers of accessibility and helping people to understand the bible and Jesus.

We hear once more from preacher and author Kate Nicholas, who continue to share her journey with God, writing and cancer.

Preacher and author Kate Nicholas takes us on her unusual route to finding God, and shares the journey that she's been on with cancer.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, talks about how she's been helping churches, her books and specialist degree.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, shares her incredibly candid, powerful and honest journey of living with mental illness and God.

Join us as we mark and celebrate Sight Loss Sunday 2024 with a special church at home service

Sarah Dawkins, CEO of the Torch Trust looks ahead to 2024's Sight Loss Sunday with Marilyn Baker and shares just why it's so important.

Disability Awareness Sunday, organised by Christian charity Through The Roof, share how they are helping churches to become more disability aware.

We hear from online support network YouBelong to find out how they are supporting Christians living with chronic illness and disability.

British Paralympian Kare Adenegan takes some time out at Paris 2024 to talk to us about her life in sport and with God.

Rev Augustine Tanner-Ihm shares what life was like growing up in Chicago, and how living with borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and dyspraxia have all impacted his faith.

This week on Reflections with Marilyn Baker, we hear from the Reverend Shuna Body MBE, who wears a multitude of hats in her day to day life: she's a vicar in Kent, works for the fire service, a school governor, chair of a charity, is married to a sheep farmer, she's a fencing coach, a trustee for Wheel Power and has attended many Paralympic games in her role within sport. We hear about her life in fencing and find out how God plays His part too.

This week on Reflections Marilyn is in conversation with Craig Spence from the International Paralympic Committee ahead of this year's games in Paris talking about how the Paralympics have become one of the world's largest sporting events, diversity and inclusion, what we can expect in 2024, and some of the positives and difficulties that surround the games too.

This week on Reflections Marilyn Baker is joined by Torch Trust's Sheila Armstrong to chat about Sight Village Central 2024 that took place recently in Birmingham, an exhibition which offers a unique opportunity to discuss and engage with new innovations and technology for people living with any degree of sight loss.

How do you get on with getting out and about with sight loss? Hazel Dudley is a Liverpool football fan and regularly travels to games - she shares her experiences with me about her travels, enjoying sport as a fan, and the importance of Jesus in her life too.

Dave Clarke OBE is a former England and Great Britain Blind Footballer who captained sides during his 144 appearances for his country and also scored 128 goals. He has been entered into the English Football Hall of Fame for his achievements and is now the Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association and Paralympics GB . Dave is chatting to Torch Trusts' Sheila Armstrong about the recent Euro's, England and Gareth Southgate, this years Paralympic games in Paris and about the future of E-Sports and Paralympic sports too.

With the Olympics getting underway very soon, we're this week thinking about the Christian Missionary Eric Liddell, the famous Scottish athlete and devout Christian who during the 1924 Olympic games in Paris dropped out of the 100-metres run —his strongest event—because the qualifying heats were scheduled for a Sunday. Joining us to chat about Eric Liddell is John MacMillan, the CEO of the Eric Liddell Community in Edinburgh, a care charity and community hub founded in 1980 in memory of the inspirational Olympic gold medallist.

This week on Reflections we're hearing from another sporting voice - in fact, in the United States he's got a notable standing as a national champion blind bowler, securing a top-10 national ranking! He's also a drummer, and a marriage minister that seeks to help couples bring God into the centre of their marriages. His name is John Helton and is the man behind the Blind Fury ministries.

On Reflections this week we're turning our attention to the tennis fortnight that's now underway at Wimbledon and hearing from Carolyn Skinner of Third Space Ministries, a charity that supports the fans trying to get into the ground with a friendly smile, eye masks, and the love of God!

This week on Reflections is the second part of our inspiring special with Penny Melville-Brown OBE, a former Royal Navy Commander who lost her sight during her time serving in the Navy. But after losing her sight, she didn't give up on life - she turned her hand to helping those with disabilities get back into work, has worked for the government and even ended up going around the globe talking about her other passion, baking!

This week on Reflections is the first of a 2 part inspiring special chatting with Penny Melville-Brown OBE, a former Royal Navy Commander who lost her sight during her time serving in the Navy. But after losing her sight, she didn't give up on life - she turned her hand to helping those with disabilities get back into work, has worked for the government and even ended up going around the globe talking about her other passion, baking! In part one Penny is chatting with Torch Trust's Sheila Armstrong about her life in the Royal Navy and sight loss.

Sunday 16th of June, marks Father's Day in the UK– a day where we pay tribute to dads and the roles they play in shaping our lives. The day however also brings with it hurt for some and we'll be looking at the highs and lows of what Father's Day is about with the singer turned broadcaster, Reverend Cindy Kent, who helps us to think about not just the role of our earthly fathers, but finding love and hope in God the father too.

Monday 10th of June, marks the start of National Carer's Week. It's a time to reflect on and appreciate the people across the UK who do such amazing work caring for others. Here on Reflections we've spoken to lots of people about the different forms caring takes and what it involves so today's show is a little bit of a showcase of some of our favourite caring-related interviews from previous years.

Today we're talking about loneliness – something that everyone has most likely felt at one time or another. To mark the upcoming Loneliness Awareness Week, we're chatting with Lucy from Marmalade Trust and exploring some wonderful resources that might be able to help.

At the start of this year, Torch Trust had a change in leadership and we were joined by a brand new CEO. Her name is Sarah Dawkins and now that she's nearly six months in to the role, we wanted to hear how she was finding it. Our producer Grace caught up with Sarah to learn all about her life, her faith and her vision for Torch…