RNIB NI Community Connection

Greenisland Social support group
Location: Greenisland Football Club, Glenkeen Avenue
Date: First Monday of the month
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.

Greenisland Boccia
Location: Greenisland Football Club, Glenkeen Avenue, Greenisland
Date: Every third Monday of the month
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.

Winter Wander Walking program Belfast
Location: Various locations in Belfast
Date: First Monday of the month, until April
Time: 10am to 1pm
Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07802 865579.

Limavady brunch
Location: Rosmar Café
Date: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 10.45am
Contact: George Cooke on 07732 171044.

Bangor Audio Book club

Date: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 2pm

Where: Ava Restaurant, 132 Main Street, Bangor BT20 4AG
Contact: Ken Carson on 07753599985

HAM Radio Group
Facilitated by Lynette Elliott
Location: Online via zoom
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 8pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.

Boccia Mid-Ulster
Location: Cookstown Leisure Centre, 78 Fountain Road Cookstown
Date: Every Tuesday for 12 weeks, until Tuesday 18 February
Time:1.30pm to 2.20pm
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07710066251.

Ballymena Brunch
Location: Fayre Grill café, Wellington Street, Ballymena
Date: Fourth Tuesday in the month
Time: 11am
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.

Community Connection December Audio newsletter
Location: Connect Facebook Live - www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI
Check the Connect Facebook page for details

VI Bowls at Pickie Bowling club, Bangor

Where: Ward Park, Bangor, Co Down
Date: every Wednesday every week
Time: 2pm

Contact: Joe Bourke on 07532758755

LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide)
Location: Online via teams
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
New members welcome
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

Downpatrick out and about – Connect with others with sight loss
Location: Downpatrick (various locations)
Date: Last Wednesday of month
Time:11am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.

Belfast Mulch and Munch gardening club
Location: Mersey Street, east Belfast
Date: Second Wednesday of the month
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07802 865579.

Carrickfergus Singing (fun singing)
Location: Carrickfergus Community Forum, Lancasterian Street, (above Poundland)
Date: Until end March
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07951746093.

Crumlin ladies Coffee morning
Location: Meet in The Hub, Mill Road, Crumlin
Date: Once a month
Time:11am – 1pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07951746093.

Foyle monthly brunch
Location: Café Central, Bishop Street (opposite Holywell Trust)
Date: First Thursday in the month
Time: 12pm
All welcome (including friends and family)
Contact: [email protected] or phone 07860607328.

NB: Brian is the lead RNIB Connector for the Foyle area - so if you have any queries or want to check out everything going on for blind and partially sighted people living in or accessible to Foyle - please feel free to ring Brian during working hours, he will return your call if he is unable to accept it at the time.

VI Gaming – A social group for a chat about gaming
Location: Online via Teams
Date: every Thursday
Time: 4pm to 5pm
Register via email [email protected] or mobile 07514 623182.

Newry out and about – Connect with others with sight loss
Location: Newry (various locations)
Date: Second Thursday of month
Time:11am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.

Causeway Coast VI Bowls / IBF Disability hub (Indoor)
Location: Ballybrakes Indoor Bowling Club, Ballymoney
Date: Every Thursday
Time: 10am to 12pm
Cost: £3 per person
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07711190440.

West Belfast Walk – in partnership with Disability Sport NI
Location: Front gate of Falls Park
Date: every Friday
Time: 10.30am.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.

Portadown out and about – Meet others with sight loss
Location: Portadown (various locations).
Date: Last Friday of month
Time: 11.00am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.

Newtownabbey Swim Group
Location: Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey
Date: Every Friday
Time: 9.15am to11.30am
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093.

Bangor's VI Campaign group

Location: Bangor Library, Hamilton Road, BT20 4LH
Date: Bi-Monthly on the first Friday
Time: 12pm (Noon)

Contact: Ken Carson on 07753599985

NB: Ken is the lead RNIB Connector for the Bangor area - so if you have any queries or want to check out everything going on for blind and partially sighted people living in or accessible to Bangor - please feel free to ring Ken during working hours, Ken will return your call if he is unable to accept it at the time

18-35 Group
Location: Various locations
Date: One Saturday a month
Time: 11am to 3pm

Our next meet-up will take place on Saturday 25th January in Belfast. This is a fun, welcoming group. If you are 18-35 and want to meet up with others, contact Fiona for more information.

Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.

Ards Read aloud
Location: Ards Library, Main Street Newtownards
Date: First Wednesday in the month
Time:11am to 12pm
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

Limavady Read Aloud
Location: Limavady Library
Date: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 11am to 12pm
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

Derry/Londonderry Read aloud
Location: Derry City Library
Date: Thursday (fortnightly)
Time: 11.30am to 12.30pm
Facilitated by Libraries NI
Contact: [email protected]

Online Book Group
Location: Facilitated by Libraries NI via Zoom
When: Last Thursday in the month
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Contact: kimcleland@librariesniorguk or telephone: 028 9085 4789

Belfast
Location: Cregagh Library, Belfast
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 11am to 12.30pm

Larne
Location: Larne Market Yard
Date: Fourth Thursday of the month
Time: 10.30am to 12pm

Carrickfergus
Location: Northlands Court, Northlands
Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Time: 11am-12.30pm

Newtownabbey
Location: Meet in Glengormley Library
Date: Second Wednesday of the month
Time:11am to 12.30pm

Antrim
Location: All Saints Parish Centre
Date: Fourth Wednesday of the month
Time: 2pm-3pm

Limavady
Location: Limavady Library
Date: First Monday of the month
Time: 10.30am

Coleraine-
Location: First Coleraine Presbyterian Church Hall
Date: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 1pm to 3pm

Ballymena
Location: First Ballymena Presbyterian Church Hall
Date: Third Tuesday of the Month
Time: 10.30am to 12pm

For further information on other locations contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] or call 01264 560 259. For all other queries please call our Helpline on 0300 3030 111.

Ballymena VIP group
Location: Ballymena Library
Date: Second Monday every month
Time: 11am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected]

Ballee VIP club
Location: every 2 weeks
Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Contact: Sammy McAuley on 07808881520 or Ballee VIP Facebook page.

Walking club:
Location: Parks across Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge areas
Date: Fourth Wednesday of the month, every month
Time: 9.30am to 3pm
Contact: Doreen McFarlane 07734723575.

Banbridge VIP Group
Location: Anglers Building, Havlock Park, Church Street, Banbridge
Date: First Wednesday of the month
Time: 2.30 to 4.30pm
Contact: Doreen McFarlane 07734723575
New Members Welcome

Bangor
There's lots happening in the Bangor area too, including book clubs, groups for men, bowling and much more. Contact [email protected] for information.

Insight Social support Group, Cookstown
Location: Cookstown Library: 13 Burn Road, Cookstown, BT80 8DJ, Tel: 028 8676 3702
Date: Second Monday of each month (except bank holidays)
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm
Contact: 07561 632612 or [email protected]

Tea, Story & Chat (Monthly)
Location: Cookstown Library, 13 Burn Road
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Facilitated by: Kendra Reynolds (Branch Library Manager) Telephone: 028 8676 3702.

VI Bowls Belfast
Location: Grove Bowling Club, York Road
Date: Every Tuesday
Time:10.30am- 1pm
Facilitated by Irish Bowls Federation
Contact: [email protected]

Edgecumbe VIP Social Club
Location: Inverary Community Centre, East Belfast -
Date: Thursdays, fortnightly
Time: 7 to 9pm
New members welcome
Contact: Stephen Norris, Mobile: 07462867526

Atlanta swimming club
Location: Shankill Leisure Centre
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 11am to 12 noon
Contact Mina Gillespie Waiting list

Acorn arts group -
Where: Divis community Centre
Date: Every Thursday
Time: 10am to 12pm
Contact: Open Arts Waiting list in place

Archery for everyone
If interested in joining the beginners course contact David, [email protected]

Fermanagh VIP Club
Meet every second Friday in Enniskillen for chat and activities
Contact Una, 07702 140761

Deafblind NI support group
Location: First Coleraine Presbyterian Church Hall
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm
Contact: Deafblind NI 0800132320

Lisburn outlook
From coffee mornings to tandem cycling, if you live in or near Lisburn, please contact [email protected] to receive the area newsletter.

EYE Speak Omagh
Self-help support group who meet regularly for leisure and learning
Contact Una, 07702 140761

VI tennis east Belfast
Location: CIYMS Tennis Club, 91 Circular Road, Belfast
Time: 11am to 1pm
Contact: [email protected]

Ulster Museum Belfast
Monthly handling sessions and talk
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 1.45pm – 2.45pm
Contact Ulster Museum directly for more information or visit the website: Welcome | National Museums NI

VI tennis South Belfast-
Location: Belfast Indoor Tennis Centre Facilitated by Windsor tennis club
Time: 11.30am - 1.30pm
Contact: Simon McFarland, 07851 282210

RNIB Talk and Support phone groups

RNIB Talk and Support runs free befriending social groups for adults with sight loss across the UK They provide opportunities for you to socialize in small groups by phone to build friendships and get peer support with other people in a similar situation We match individuals together for conversations based on age and group preferences

For more information contact RNIB Helpline.

VI Judo Causeway (Tuesdays)
£3 per session
Open to new members
Location: North Coast Grappling, 17 Victoria St, Ballymoney
Date: Tuesdays (weekly)
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07711190440

Causeway Boccia
Location: Coleraine West Community Centre, The Rope Walk, Coleraine
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 2pm –3.15pm
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07711190440

VI Judo Causeway (Thursdays)
Location: North Coast Grappling, 17 Victoria St, Ballymoney
£3 per session
Open to new members
Date: Every Thursdays
Time: 5:30pm
Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07711190440

Rise and Shine Ladies Coffee
Location: Greggs Café (next door to the Forum) Coleraine
Date: Last Friday of the month
Time: 11am
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 0771119044

Causeway Accessible Heritage in Partnership with Causeway Museum Service

Contact RNIB Community Access, [email protected] or call 07711190440 for more information or to register interest

Glaucoma Support Group
Location: face to face and online
Contact Elaine Manson, mobile 07734980687 or [email protected].