Podcasts about blind veterans uk

On 8 May 1945, after almost six years of brutal war, Germany finally surrendered to the Allies, and Victory in Europe was declared. 'VE Day 80: After the Darkness' is a new Blind Veterans UK online exhibition featuring the extraordinary first-hand accounts from a number of Blind Veterans who were there on the day. Each story is also accompanied by a wonderful illustration by award-winning Artist and Illustrator Martin Impy which is also described on the website too.  RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Martin to firstly find out about his own family's experiences of WWII and VE-Day along with any previous connections he may have had with Blind Veterans UK. Then Martin talks about his illustrations for VE Day 80: After the Darkness and how he worked on the illustrations for Blind Veteran Derrick and Matt's stories that feature in the online exhibition. Derrick was a pilot during WWII, shot down over Italy and by taking a wrong turn ended up being captured, spending over a year as a Prisoner of War and forced to march across Germany in freezing conditions.   Matt was serving with the SAS behind enemy lines in Italy and no grand announcements or celebrations for him on VE Day. The audio clips from VE-Day 80: After the Darkness and Martin's illustration have been included with the kind permission of Blind Veterans UK and by Martin Impy.  You will find all of the Blind Veterans UK first hand VE Day stories along with Martin's wonderful illustrations by visiting - https://www.blindveterans.org.uk/news-stories/ve-day-80-after-the-darkness/ And for more about Martin, his work and his new illustrated book ‘BLITZ One Family's War' then do visit his website - https://martinimpey.com If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then do get in touch with Blind Veterans UK by calling 0800 389 7979 or visit their website - https://www.blindveterans.org.uk Image shows Derrick standing in the foreground of a prisoner of war camp, calm but alert. Around him, fellow airmen mill about under the watchful gaze of a guard tower. There's music, chatter and movement - but no certainty yet of what tomorrow will bring.

Barry Snell catches up with a former soldier Tony Haskey, who has been getting creative with ways to remember our fallen soldiers and also to raise money for the charity Blind Veterans UK. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

In this episode of Craftcast, our hosts sit down with Clive Jones – a dedicated Freemason, Chairman of Blind Veterans UK Archery Club, and the world's No. 4 ranked blind archer. Clive shares his remarkable journey, from military service to life-changing challenges and his path into Freemasonry. They discuss the values that guide him, the support of his Masonic Brethren, and how he mastered archery despite losing sight. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on resilience, fraternity, and aiming high, no matter the obstacles!To learn more about Blind Veterans UK, contact Clive Jones at dragoneye67@sky.com

Birmingham City University (BCU) recently welcomed a delegation of health and education professionals from Ukraine as part of a World Health Foundation project looking at improving treatment options for soldiers with complex eye injuries. The visit to BCU and other institutions across the UK, supported by Blind Veterans UK, allowed the University to demonstrate the valuable role it is playing in the field of visual rehabilitation and to show case the many other services offered to blind and partially sighted people by other sight loss organisations including Blind Veterans UK and the RNIB to name just a few. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by Susan Cadby, Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Studies at Birmingham City University and Philippa Cubitt, National Rehabilitation Services Lead at Blind Veterans to find out more about the Ukraine visit, the sharing of information around rehabilitation services here in the UK and other services for blind and partially sighted people and what we can learn from the Ukraine visitors around how modern war fare has changed some of the eye injuries coming out of conflicts today compared to 10 or 20 years ago. For more about Birmingham City University and their courses including vision rehabilitation doo visit - https://www.bcu.ac.uk And for more about Blind Veterans UK and their work supporting vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss do visit - https://www.blindveterans.org.uk  Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

As we all come together for the National Service of Remembrance this Sunday 10 November and observe the 2 minutes of silence at 11am to commemorate the brave sacrifice of all those who lost their lives for their country.   Blind Veterans UK the national charity for vision-impaired ex-service men and women will be supporting their blind veterans in making the journey to London to march past the Cenotaph, or to mark the important occasion at events closer to home. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by Blind Veteran Graham Grange who was a musician in the Coldstream Guards and will be attending his local war memorial on Sunday with his trusty Guide Dog to remember all those service men, women and civilians who gave so much for their country and for us all too.  Graham talks about his musical military career in the Coldstream Guards, playing for the late Queen, why it is so important to remember on Remembrance Sunday as well as on Armistice Day on Monday 11 November and how Blind Veterans UK have helped him over the years since he started to lose his sight. If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, do get in touch with Blind Veterans UK by calling 0800 389 7979 or visit their website - https://www.blindveterans.org.uk  (Image shows Graham sat in his living room with his guide dog next to a piano)

Today 6 June 2024, as a nation we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, the most decisive turning point in the Second World War. Blind Veterans UK who help to support vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss is honouring their D-Day heroes through the D-Day 80: In Their Own Words section of their website, telling their D-Day stories along with an online photography exhibition featuring portraits of 16 veterans who served in Normandy who receive support from Blind Veterans UK. Mark Wheeler from Blind Veterans UK explains more to RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey about the D-Day 80: In Their Own Words campaign and section of their website, why the D-Day landings were so decisive in starting the end of World War II plus a summary of some of those stories that feature on their website along with an outline of a couple of the portraits too and what Blind Veterans UK would like people to come away with from visiting the D-Day 80: In Their Own Words section of their website. To find out more about Blind Veterans UK, read some or all of the D-Day 80: In Their Own Words stories plus view and hear descriptions of the amazing 16 portraits do visit Blind Veterans UK website - https://www.blindveterans.org.uk (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

This June sight loss charity ‘Blind Veterans UK' are encouraging everyone to raise money and mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, by getting creative with the number 80. As Hywel Davies has been finding out. If you'd like to support Ian's 'Blindfolded Bimble', you can find more information on his Just Giving page - Supporter of Blind Veterans UK is fundraising for Blind Veterans UK (justgiving.com)

The Scottish Vision Strategy Conference took place on Wednesday 20 March 2024 in Edinburgh. This year the event focused on the eye care support pathway, and how we can better support people from diagnosis to living well with an eye condition. Our David Hogg attended the event and spoke with Nicola from Blind Veterans UK about their thoughts on the conference so far. Image shows RNIB Scotland logo. On a white square background, 'RNIB' is written in black bold capital letters. Underneath, in a slightly smaller font we have 'Scotland' also written in black. A bold pink line underlines them.  

Making his way through the ranks in the REME Corps, Simon Brown experienced postings to Germany, Kosovo & Iraq. A kinetic second tour of Iraq led to him being shot in the face by a sniper, resulting in the loss of one eye, and 20% remaining vision in the other. Simon has become an inspirational force in multiple communities and outlets, coaching the Leeds Rhinos PD Rugby Team, becoming a councillor for Morley & working with Blind Veterans UK. Follow This Podcast To Be Notified Of New Episodes, Visit Our Social Media Platforms & YouTube Channel For More Bonus Content, And Listen Live To Our Radio Station: Listen Live: ⁠https://www.forceradio.live/⁠ Visit Our YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forceradiohq

On November 11th, 2023, blind veteran Mark Vidler will proudly march past the Cenotaph in London to pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, for King and country. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Mark about his career, the help he has received from Blind Veterans UK and what it means to be part of Sunday's event. If you'd like more information about BV UK, go to www.blindveterans.org.uk #RNIBConnect Image shows a field of poppies made out of a glossy red material.

In this podcast, RCGP Clinical Champion for veterans' healthcare Dr Emily Brookes talks with Beth Lambert, National Service Lead for Op RESTORE, and Mr Shehan Hettiaratchy, National Clinical Director for Op RESTORE, about their specialist service designed to improve physical healthcare for Armed Forces veterans. Become veteran friendly at rcgp.org.uk/veterans Services mentioned in the podcast: Blesma - charity that supports limbless veterans Blind Veterans UK - charity that supports vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss Op RESTORE - the NHS Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service (formerly the Veterans Trauma Network)

Emma Flint, after growing up in a military family, is Volunteer Co-ordinator with Blind Veterans UK and now working to help veterans who have sight loss.

Alice Findlay, RNIB Customer Voice Insight Coordinator shares the latest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in with RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey. Opportunities highlighted this week included: See Sport Differently Programme Involvement Opportunities RNIB have teamed up with British Blind Sport to launch our new See Sport Differently campaign. Blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive than people without sight loss, and so the goal of the See Sport Differently Programme is to tackle the barriers around awareness, confidence and information to get more blind and partially sighted people feeling the physical, mental and social benefits of sport and exercise. The RNIB are looking for people with sight loss to act as See Sport Differently Champions.  You may be someone who takes part in local sport or physical activity and happy to share your experiences with other blind and partially sighted people. The RNIB would be hoping that you might be able to offer informal peer support and encouragement to others who are taking those first steps to get active. There are more ways of taking part in the programme, from signing up as a See Sport Differently champion, to sharing your story, joining a focus group, or helping the RNIB evaluate the programme. There are lots of ways to get involved and you don't need to be sporty or active to take part.  Contact the team via email seesportdifferently@rnib.org.uk to find out more about current opportunities.  Visual Impairment among Chinese Communities in the UK BRAVO VICTOR (a sister charity of Blind Veterans UK) are currently recruiting adults aged 18 and over who are Chinese or of Chinese heritage and have a visual impairment to take part in a research interview.  A recent review found that very little research has explored the everyday experiences of adults from different ethnic communities in the UK who have a visual impairment. Considering that some groups may be at greater risk of visual impairment and the health inequalities experienced by different ethnic communities, it is important that they are included in research and their voices are heard. The aim of this research is to explore the experiences of individuals with visual impairment in Chinese communities in the UK, including their support needs and access to services. By understanding these experiences, BRAVO VICTOR hope to identify areas where improvements can be made to better support Chinese adults with visual impairment. If you are interested in taking part or have any questions, please email Yanan Yu via Yanan.yu@bravovictor.org or call 020 7550 4049.  All research information and materials are available in Chinese simplified. Lambeth Council Accessibility Working Group MP Smarter Travel are currently working with the Transport team for Lambeth Council, London, on the delivery of an Accessibility Working Group. As part of the Equalities Act 2010, Lambeth Council want to ensure that all proposed infrastructure in the borough meets the requirements for disabled individuals. Visually impaired individuals can experience infrastructure differently to others and this can restrict their experience and freedom of travel. Whether this is kerbs, tactile paving, junctions and crossings, or access to buses. Accessibility working group members will meet monthly to discuss proposed infrastructure designs and suggest changes to these designs. Feedback from the lived experience of accessibility group members will ensure that new infrastructure implemented in Lambeth is as inclusive as possible going forward, and freedom of travel is experienced by as many individuals as possible in the borough.  Accessibility working group members will need to live or work in Lambeth, London, and be available to attend one meeting per month either online or in person in Lambeth. If you are interested in participating in the group or know someone who might be interested, please do get in touch via email info@mpsmartertravel.co.uk or call 020 7960 2559. To find out more about these Connect Voices opportunities and how you can get involved with RNIB Connect Voices do visit- https://www.rnib.org.uk/connect-community/connect-voices-network/connect-voices-current-opportunities (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

In this episode of the Vets First Podcast, hosts Dr. Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview Dr. Renata Gomes. Dr. Gomes is a medical and forensic specialist with a sub-specialized in regenerative biomedicine who works with blinded Veterans in the United Kingdom. She was born in Portugal into a family with 5 generations of Army officers and moved to England at a young age. She earned her degree in Forensic Medicine and a Masters in Cardiovascular Medicine and Biology from University College London. Dr. Gomes then earned her international PhD in Regenerative Medicine and Biochemistry with the University of Oxford (United Kingdom), University of Coimbra (Portugal), and the University of Eastern Finland (Finland). After gaining her doctorate, Dr. Gomes became a researcher in regenerative medicine and joined the Royal Naval Reserves.Dr. Gomes established Blind Veterans UK's research and innovation department in 2017 and was central to the establishment of Bravo Victor in 2021. Blind Veterans UK is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1915 that provides rehabilitation and services for blinded UK Veterans and their families. Bravo Victor was established to invest in the combination of medical research, social welfare research, and innovations to prepare Veterans living with sight loss for the future, as Veterans in the UK stay with Blind Veterans UK for their lifetime. Dr. Gomes shares about the focus on traumatic brain injury that can cause significant issues in sensory loss, family relationships, and innovations that ensure that Veterans can live independent and fulfilling lives. She also highlights their international collaborations many countries including the United States to better serve Veterans and help stop significant loss of vision through promotion of eye health. Bravo Victor has and continues to work with the Blinded Veterans Association, the only congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization created for, consisting of, and led by visually impaired Veterans. For more information about Bravo Victor, viewers can visit https://www.bravovictor.org/. If you are a Veteran or you know a Veteran needing help with visual loss, contact the Visual Impairment Services Team coordinator at your nearest VA medical center or contact the Blind Rehabilitation Service Program by phone which can be found here. There are 13 Blind Rehabilitation Centers around the country, which can help with things like mobility, communication, and living with vision loss. 

David Rutherford-Jones is Chief Executive of Morden College, a charity that provides homes, care and support for c.300 older people in London. Prior to this he was a soldier for 35 years, commanding at every level up to and including an operational Brigade, and finishing his career in two consecutive senior appointments: Commandant of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Military Secretary to the Army. He has given a lot of his time to the welfare of serving soldiers, and more recently to retired soldiers, having been Colonel of The Light Dragoons, The Queen's Own Yeomanry, and of the Corps of Army Music; a Trustee of Blind Veterans UK, and an advisor to Combat Stress. General RJ has also been a School Governor, sat as Trustee on four other Boards, and run a series of leadership seminars in the finance sector.David's wife, Sarah, has been a phenomenal support to David; a Trustee of the Charity, SSAFA and in various appointments engaged with the Royal British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund. Today she is Sponsorship Director for The HPower Group.As CEO of Morden College, David led the community of staff and residents through the coronavirus pandemic years: 2020 and 2021, during which the Charity sadly lost one, but only one, of its 300 or so older beneficiaries. He puts this comparative success down to the Herculean efforts of his staff, and the enduring patience of the Charity's beneficiaries. RJ also believes his operational experience as a soldier gave him the planning framework and skill to plan the Charity's response to the crisis, and the courage and tenacity to lead the community of staff and beneficiaries at Morden College through what was an exceptionally challenging and unique crisis. In his own words “the toughest leadership challenge of my life”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queen Elizabeth II was the Commander In Chief of the British Armed Forces and that connection runs deep for those currently serving and for veterans alike. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Nick Caplin, Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, to learn more about that connection and some of the charity's fond memories of Queen Elizabeth II. #RNIBConnect Image: RNIB Connect Radio logo

Two UK-based charities, Blind Veterans UK and Bravo Victor, were invited to Ukraine and met with the government there to see how they can help rebuild the country's visual impairment rehabilitation services and assist with research facilities to help deal with the ongoing emergency. Nick Caplin is the chief executive of Blind Veterans UK and he tells us about the outcome of the visit and their collective plans moving forward. Rally, serve, love. That's right, its tennis season! We hear about an initiative from New Zealand that is providing visually impaired tennis fans with more information about what is happening on court. It is called Action Audio and using spatial audio data, it allows people to hear what kind of serve was given, where the ball lands in relation to the court lines and more. Tim Devine is one of the founders of Action Audio and he talks us through how it works. We also speak to Ivan Rodriguez-Deb, who is currently Britain's No.1 in the B4 men's visually impaired singles category. He tells us about his career aspirations and about the kinds of adaptations he makes, given he has some residual sight. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: William Wolstenholme Website image description: An aerial shot of a blue paddle tennis court. The net runs down the centre of the image, with large shadow reflecting on the left side. Two tennis balls are located on the right side of the net.

14th of June 2022 saw the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict.  RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke with Steve Tuffen, who served with 2 Para, to talk about his part in the re-taking of the islands, how an enemy bullet robbed him of his sight and how he has rebuilt his life thanks to the support of the Royal British Legion and Blind Veterans UK. Image shows an image from the Falklands Conflict. British Soldiers marching, the one closes to the back has a British flag attached to their rucksack. 

Robert Kirkwood takes us to Dumfries House in Ayrshire for the Boswell Book Festival, the world's only festival of biography and memoir.  We hear from Keith Brymer Jones, host of the Great Pottery Throwdown and author of Boy in a China Shop,  Katherine McInnes tells us about the Snow Widows left behind by Scott's ill-fated South Pole mission,  Andrew O'Hagan talks about his book Mayflies and his old job at Blind Veterans UK,  Emma Soames edits her mother's diaries for Mary Churchill's War, Giles Milton has some Fascinating Footnotes from History,  Frank Skinner and Denise Mina talk about retracing Johnson and Boswell's Grand Tour of Scotland,  Lady Glenconner talks about her depiction in The Crown and narrating an audiobook at 89, and we return to Keith Brymer Jones for the books of his life.

Hello and welcome to Fibonacci, the Red Olive data podcast, all about data and analytics where we hear from leading specialists and get their take on the industry. We are joined today by Simon Hopkins, Director of Resources at Blind Veterans UK. This provides free support and services to vision-impaired, ex-Armed Forces and National Service personnel.  Simon has previously held a variety of roles in the third sector at CFO, CEO and COO levels and started his career in professional practice, qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG in London.  Simon is a regular columnist for Charity Finance magazine, publishes and speaks regularly on subjects ranging from financial sustainability to digital disruption.  Here are the main topics of conversation with their timecodes: Learning how to rethink the relationship between money and data when moving to the charity sector (3m) Understanding that the customer is more sophisticated and multi-layered in the charity sector than people think (4m 41s) Integrating data, and the idea of one platform going out of fashion (6m) How important it is for a single view of data at the top is in bringing an organisation with you (6m 52s) Simon's work at Blind Veterans (10m) Formulating a data strategy (11m 28s) Connecting with other organisations to help the vulnerable (16m) Data-rich solutions that could connect multiple sources into a marketplace of help (22m) Thinking of the GDPR as an asset (27m 44s) Where a marketplace of help could emerge from (31m) A map of veterans' needs and how it helps anticipate what their future needs will be (33m) Using data from patients' smartphones to help determine when interventions are needed (34m) The skills that you need to enter a career in the data industry (40m) Working strategically with Red Olive (44m)

Terry Bullingham served in the Royal Navy until he lost his sight in an air strike while serving during the Falklands conflict. After being taken back to the UK and assessed by Moorfields Eye Hospital, he was helped back on the road to recovery by the charity Blind Veterans UK. Terry's life went from strength to strength and to give something back, his story, amongst others, will now feature in a book to help raise money for the veterans charity. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Terry to learn about his time in the navy, his recovery and why the book is so important to him. If you'd like more info on the services provided by Blind Veterans UK, go to www.blindveterans.org.uk You can also call them on 0300111 2233 #RNIBConnect Image of two side by side photos showing Terry as a young man in full uniform and Terry nowadays.

This week Max Conway, RNIB's Trainee National Involvement Coordinator shares the latest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in. Opportunities highlighted included: Blind Veterans UK and Circadian Therapeutics are seeking vision-impaired individuals to participate in a research project exploring experiences of sleep and daily rhythm disruption HMRC are looking for blind and partially sighted people to join their user panel to help to improve.gov.uk Finally, Kings College London and the British Association of Social Workers are researching in to how adult social workers use digital technologies when supporting blind and partially sighted people To find out more about these items and how you can get involved with RNIB Connect Voices do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/rnibconnect/connect-voices (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath) 

In March of this year our world was turned upside-down. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact right across society and continues to do so. For charities and those who provide services to some of the most vulnerable groups in society, a loss in fundraised income and diminished face-to-face contact has been extremely challenging. In the first of an occasional series, we’re going to the heart of this sector, and talking with some of our charity partners to find out just how the last few months have been for them and the people with whom they work. We’re delighted in this session to host our friends from Blind Veterans UK. The charity helps ex-Service men and women of every generation rebuild their lives after sight loss. With a membership of just under 5,000, they are always opening to new members.

At RNIB Connect Radio we’ve been catching up with blind and partially sighted people to hear how they are getting on during the coronavirus outbreak. This time we spoke with Mark Pile, photographer and member of Blind Veterans UK , who fell ill with the virus a few weeks ago and is only just getting back on his feet. For Mark's photography page visit: www.mip-photography.com (Image shows a photo of Mark holding a camera)

With the COVID-19 virus leaving the UK in lockdown, many of society's most vulnerable people are facing isolation. RNIB connect Radio's Barry Snell spoke to Fran McSweeney who is the Assistant Director of Operations, Blind Veterans UK to find out what steps they are taking to keep their members safe & connected.

This podcast features interviews with Billy and Huw, staff members at the Llandudno base of Blind Veterans UK. These interviews have been conducted as part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project, which aims to 'Bring Stories to Life' and encourage creative response work based on the experiences of veterans and the archive of stories and images from the work of Blind Veterans UK. You can access the archive here: https://www.blindveterans.org.uk/about-us/our-history/resources/ The project welcomes submissions of creative response from work (poems, photos, music, stories, etc) which can be emailled to: info@tapemusicandfilm.co.uk Thank you.

We're back with a new episode and we catch up with the enigmatic Chris Nowell. Chris served in the military from 2001 to 2007 in tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. During a tour in Afghanistan he was badly injured in a rocket attack on his base and suffered severe head injuries, extensive skull fractures and brain damage. This neurological damage resulted in sight loss.Amazingly, with help from Blind Veterans UK and local photographers, he has forged a path into the world of landscape photography despite his challenges with partial vision. Paul chats with Chris in more detail on the show and finds out about the positive impact photography has had on his life. Thanks as ever to WEX Photo Video & Fotospeed for supporting the show. We’ll be back in in a couple of weeks time with David Ward discussing his new exhibition at the Joe Cornish Gallery and much more.

This week Johannah & I visited the charity, Blind Veterans UK, to try their new autonomous vehicle (AV/driverless car). We discussing how these vehicles could provide mobility for specific user-groups as well as the population at large. We had a whale of a time on the pods!

Mark Pile is a member of Blind Veterans UK and a keen photographer. His recent series of photographs is currently being exhibited at Bath’s Guildhall until 14th of May and will be moving onto Bridgwater later on. Speaking with RNIB Connect Radio Mark shared his tips for taking great photos.  Mark spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. To view more of Mark’s photography visit his page: [https://www.mip-photography.com/](https://www.mip-photography.com/) (Photo: a black and white landscape photograph overlooking a body of water with mountains in the distance curving around the edge of it) [Photo credit: Mark Pile]

When you lose your sight it can seem like an uphill battle to get your life back on track. Mark Pile spent almost 10 years in isolation before deciding that things needed to change and seeking out help. Now, Mike is bravely taking on the world with his fateful guide dog Echo at his side and the support of Blind Veterans UK. Mark spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. (Photo shows Mark kneeling down with his arm around his cream labrador cross golden retriever Echo. Photo credit: Artur Lesniak/Reach)

Dr. Thomas Zampieri served as an Army Medic from 1972 until September 1975.  After college he enlisted in the Army National Guard, retiring in 2000 as a Major after 22 years. His service included 13 years as a Military Aeromedical Flight Surgeon, logging more than 600 hours of flight operations. Tom graduated from Hahnemann Medical University’s Physician Assistant Program in June1978. He obtained a Bachelor Science Degree from State University of New York and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Political Science from University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, in 2003. Dr. Zampieri completed his Political Science Ph.D. at Lacrosse University in December 2005. He was employed in April 2005 as the Director of Government Relations for BVA, presenting testimony before U.S. Congressional Committees on a variety of veterans’ issues.  Retiring from BVA in 2013, Tom currently serves on the Association’s Board of Directors and is chairman of BVA Government Relations Committee. Tom has 5 percent vision in both eyes resulting from degenerative retinal disease. He has volunteered since 2010 in planning an award-winning international exchange program with the Blind Veterans UK known as Project Gemini in eight year now.  He has organized briefings with senior defense medical officials on military eye injuries, blast traumatic brain injuries with vision dysfunction, defense vision trauma research program, and rehabilitation services with both DOD, VA, and UK officials. For More Information about the Blinded Veterans Association, please visit www.BVA.org

A conversation with Colin Williamson, President of Blind Veterans UK.

Earlier this year Blind Veterans UK launched their very first community choir called ‘Vision in Song’. Having performed for the first time at ‘The Lawn’ in Essex the choir, which comprises of vision-impaired ex-Service men, performs an assortment of numbers from war-time classics to patriotic anthems and jazz hits. Speaking with us about how ‘Vision in Song’ came to be and what the choir means to its visually impaired vocalists are choir founder and Essex Community Team Leader Jennie Hammond and veteran Lional Chivers. Jennie and Lional are chatting with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. To hear ‘Vision in Song’ perform Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll meet again’ visit: [www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_enLrtuzg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_enLrtuzg)

Last week the Royal National Institute for the Blind announced the closure of the Pears Centre, a children's home and school, run by the charity. The Pears Centre will shut in November after Ofsted raised significant concerns about the management of the Specialist Learning Centre. The children at the centre will need to find new placements. We get reaction from Hardeep Rai, a parent, whose son is a resident at the Pears Centre, in Coventry. And we'll find out how best to wow the audience if you're doing public speaking. We'll report from a new course being run by Blind Veterans UK designed to help servicemen do speeches and presentations - both to help in the jobs market and to act as ambassadors for the organisation. Learn more about how to engage an audience and how to make the most of your body language. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Jess Quayle.

Anne McElvoy explores some historic tussles over who read what, when, how and why. Bodleian scholar Dennis Duncan reveals how disputatious monks took the book out of the monastery; the novelist and New Generation Thinker Sophie Coulombeau uncovers public frothing over political pamphlet reading in pubs in the 18th century; 19th century literature expert Katie McGettigan celebrates a loophole in copyright law which resulted in American literature dominating British bookshelves; Katherine Cooper from Newcastle and another New Generation Thinker reveals the role of women in expanding the horizons of literature in the 20th century and Matthew Rubery, author of The Untold Story of the Talking Book, reflects on the way technology spread reading across society and he gives us a demonstration of the Optophone - an early machine to bring books to the blind.Pres: Anne McElvoy Guests: Katherine Cooper, University of Newcastle Sophie Coulombeau, University of York; author of 'Rites' Dennis Duncan, The Bodleian Centre for the Study of the Book Katie McGettigan, Royal Holloway University, London Matthew Rubery, Queen Mary University, London; author of 'The Untold Story of the Talking Book' forthcomingThe Optophone appears courtesy of Blind Veterans UK. New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to find academics who can turn their research into radio programmes. You can find more programmes in the BBC #LoveToRead campaign http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04b5zz8/members And hear more over the #LovetoRead weekend 5-6 November.Producer: Jacqueline Smith

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor The Lady Flight, attended a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of Blind Veterans UK at Westminster Abbey at Noon on Tuesday 6th October 2015. The address was given by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall

Blind Veterans UK provides free, lifelong support to ex-Service men and women who are battling severe sight loss, regardless of when or how they lost their sight. Through specialist practical and emotional support, at home, in the community and at the charity’s three centres, veterans and families are given vital help to ensure they are able to discover life beyond sight loss. If you, or someone you know, is a vision impaired veteran now battling severe sight loss, request Blind Veterans UK’s free, lifelong support by calling 0800 389 7979 or visit www.noonealone.org.uk.