RNIB NI Community Connection

• ‘Insight’ Social support Group (Mid-Ulster, Cookstown) - Usually first Monday of each month - Monday 3rd June 1.00pm to 2.30pm, Cookstown Community Centre, 42 Fairhill Road, Cookstown, BT80 8AG. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07710066251.
• VI (Visual Impairment) tennis Belfast* - 11.30pm to 1pm - CIYMS tennis club, 91 Circular Road, Belfast. Facilitated by CIYMS  Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07802 865579.
• Greenisland Social support group - Greenisland Football Club - Glenkeen Avenue will be on 3 June from 2pm - 4pm. (first Monday of the Month) - Speaker – Daniel McCurdy from Libraries NI Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.
• Boccia – Monday 17 June (in partnership with Greenisland Football Club and Community Sports Network) - Usually every third Monday of month, 2pm to 4pmin Greenisland Football Club, Glenkeen Avenue, Greenisland. Come along for a bit of fun, craic, exercise, and company. Open to all. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.

• Omagh Walking group (weekly) - Walk and talk as you lap the track at Omagh Leisure centre. Be there and ready to walk for 12pm. Your are welcome to bring friends or family along. There is a handy cafe in the leisure centre too!! Contact: [email protected] and Una will link you in with Terry from the EyeSpeak VI group in Omagh.
• Limavady brunch - First Tuesday of every month (4 June). Rosmar Café at 10.45am All welcome. For more info contact: George Cooke on 07732 171044.
• Equipment demo with Louise Kenny in Limavady - Tuesday 18 June at 11am The Community Hub, 33 Catherine Street, BT49 9DA. All welcome, Louise will be demonstrating kitchen equipment, talking watches, readers etc.
• VI Judo Causeway - 1pm to 2.30pm at North Coast Grappling, 17 Victoria St, Ballymoney. £3 per session. Open to new interest. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07711190440.
• VI Bowls - 10.30am to 1pm, Grove Bowling Club, York Road, Belfast - Open to new interest. Facilitated by Irish Bowls Federation. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07802 865579.
• HAM radio group - Tuesday 11 June (second Tuesday of the month), 8pm to approx. 9.15pm - Facilitated by Lynette Elliott. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.
• Tea, Story & Chat (Monthly) - 2pm to 3pm (Third Tuesday of every month) Cookstown Library, 13 Burn Road, Cookstown, BT80 8DJ. Facilitated by Kendra Reynolds (Branch Library Manager). Tel: 028 8676 3702. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07710066251.
• Ulster Museum Belfast  - monthly talk and handling session. Facilitated by museum staff. Tuesday 11th June 2pm – 3pm. Theme this month is shoes and costume. Booking required. If you are unsure of where you are going a group meet in the city centre and travel together to the museum. Contact [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579.
• Sailing day with Belfast Lough - Sailability Tuesday 18th June, followed by pub lunch. Contact [email protected] or Mobile: 07802865579.
• Glaucoma Support Group - Tuesday 25 June at 2pm - 3pm via Zoom. Contact [email protected] or mobile 07734980687.

• Read aloud in Ards library - Wednesday 5 June at Ards Library from 11am to 12pm. Facilitated by Libraries NI. One of the library staff will read a short story and the group discuss the characters and the plot, good fun light entertainment.
• Walk Tobar Mhuire as part of the St Patricks Centre annual walking festival, Wed 12 June - The Team from St Patricks Centre are keen to do a guided walk for our VI community walkers, we will meet at a local coffee shop to do the introductions, then undertake our 2 mile route; approx 60 to 70 min walk and then have our own picnics before getting the bus home! Tobar Mhuire is a monastery and retreat with over 60 acres of parkland located in Crossgar. For more information on the estate please see their website https://www.tobarmhuire.com. Contact [email protected] or phone 07702 140761.
• Ards monthly brunch – all welcome. Wed 19 June at The Regency Cafe from 11am to 12.15 pm. All welcome and bring a friend Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.
• Causeway Boccia - Wednesdays (weekly) at Coleraine West Community Centre, The Rope Walk, Coleraine from 2pm – 3.15pm. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07711190440.
• LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide) - Wednesday 19 June at 6.30 pm to 7.30pm. New members welcome. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.
• Gardening Club, Belfast - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 12th June at 10.15am. Facilitated by Ulster Wildlife Trust and Connswater Homes. Restricted numbers and registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Craft group, Belfast - Meet 3rd Wednesday in month from 10.30am - 12.30pm at Royal Avenue. Next meeting Wednesday 19th June. Facilitated by Robins Hobby café. Cost £10 to cover venue hire, tuition, and all materials. Restricted numbers and pre booking and payment required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Hillsborough Castle, lake walk - Wednesday 19th June at 10.30am followed by lunch. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579.
• Equipment demo with Louise Kenny in Ballymena - Wednesday 26 June from 11am at All Saints Parish Hall. All welcome. Louise will be demonstrating kitchen equipment, talking watches, readers etc. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
• RNIB services talk and local social development with RNIBs Community Connection team (Ballymena) - Wednesday 26 June from 1.15pm at All Saints Parish Hall. Una and Jonny will be reminding people of RNIB's services and discussing existing and new social opportunities in the area. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
• Downpatrick out and about, Wednesday 26 June - We're back in Downpatrick from 11.00am to 12.30pm! If you live in the Downpatrick area or are accessible to it easily and would like to meet and connect with others who are blind or partially sighted and their friends, then join the RNIB Community Connection team for tea/coffee and a chat. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
• Dungannon monthly audio book club - Dungannon Library on Wed 26 June from 11am to 12.30pm. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. For further info contact Paul McKearney at [email protected].

• Foyle monthly brunch - The Sandwich Co on Bishop Street on Thurs 6 June from 12pm. All welcome – bring you friends if you want. Just a social together to catch up over brunch. Contact: [email protected].
• Thursday 6th June Belfast, amblers walking group - Participants must be able to walk 5-8km at a steady pace. The group will be meeting alternative Thursdays throughout the summer. Various locations. Sighted guides available to assist if required. Limited numbers. Booking essential. Contact: [email protected] or 07802 865579.
• Thursday 13 June Womens coffee morning - at 11am The hub in Crumlin. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07951746093.
• Derry City Library - Read aloud (every fortnight) Thursday 13 and 27 June from 11.30am to 12.30pm. Facilitated by Libraries NI. All welcome, come along and listen to a story, a book or poem. Discuss the characters over a cuppa. The more the merrier!!
• Archery for Everyone - Weekly, Thursday evenings from 6.30pm - 7.30pm at Greenisland Community Centre, 15 Glassillan Grove, Greenisland BT388TB. Coach David Thompson. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.
• Online Book group – monthly book group facilitated by Libraries NI via Zoom. Last Thursday in the month from 3pm – 4pm. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Causeway Coast VI Bowls (Indoor) - from 10am to 12pm at Ballybrakes indoor bowling centre, Ballymoney. In partnership with Irish Bowls Federation. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07711190440.
• VI Judo Causeway - from 1pm to 2.30pm at North Coast Grappling, 17 Victoria St, Ballymoney. £3 per session. Open to new interest. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07711190440.
• Newry out and about - we're back in Newry on the 13 June at 11am. Meet up in library followed by a walk at noon. If you live in the Newry area or are accessible to it easily and would like to meet and connect with others who are blind or partially sighted and their friends, then join the RNIB Community Connection team for tea/coffee and a chat. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
• History group, walking tour of Lisburn - Thursday 20th June. This is a closed group. Waiting list in operation. Contact: [email protected] or 07802865579.
• Out of hours, dinner meet up at the Garrick - Thursday 20th June. For anyone who fancies trying the Garrick for food. We will meet at 6.30pm at the Garrick menu.pdf (thegarrickbar.com). Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
• Newcastle out and about – Thursday 27 June. We're back in Newcastle from 11.00am to 12.30pm! If you live in the area or are accessible to it easily and would like to meet and connect with others who are blind or partially sighted and their friends, then join the RNIB Community Connection team for tea/coffee and a chat.  Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
• VI Gaming – every Thursday from 4pm to 5pm. A social group for a chat about gaming. Via Teams. Registration via email: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.

• West Belfast walk – meeting at the main gate of Falls Park at 10.30am. Organized by DSNI. Two levels, a slow walk, and a faster walk. The group usually go for coffee in the local café for a chat. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
• Equipment demo with Louise Kenny from the RNIB Products for Life team in Fermanagh - Friday 14 June from 11am at The British Legion, 3 Wellington Road, Enniskillen BT74 7EF. All welcome. Louise will be demonstrating kitchen equipment, talking watches, readers etc.
• RNIB services talk and Community Connection - at the British Legion, Enniskillen on Friday 14 June from 12.15pm. Una Mulgrew will be reminding people of RNIB's services and discussing existing and new social opportunities in the area. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
• Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) Face-to-face meet up - Friday 21 June from 11.45 to 1.30pm at RNIB's office, Victoria House, Glouster street. Anyone with any experience of CBS.
• VI tennis - from 11am to 12.30pm at Belfast Indoor Tennis Centre. Facilitated by Windsor tennis club. Registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802865579.
• What’s happening in July: Facebook live audio newsletter - Una will share the Community Connection program in our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI on Thursday 27 June at 3pm.
• Newtownabbey Swim Group - from 9.15am to 11.30am every Friday morning at Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey. Meet in the foyer of the leisure centre at 9.15am with swimsuit on under clothing. Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07951746093.
• Todds Leap, Ballygawley Roundabout – from 12.45pm on Friday 28 June. £50 per head for 3 activities and a hot lunch. Off road driving (assured it is safe). The Big Yella slide (150 metres at speed of 40MPH). Off road safari.
• Rise and Shine Ladies Coffee and Chat (Coleraine) - Last Friday of the month, 11am at Greggs Cafe, next door to the Forum, Coleraine. Open to new interest.  Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 0771119044.

18-35 Focus on Employment session - Saturday 1 June 11am to 1pm via Teams

RNIB Employment Team are delighted to facilitate this session. We will explain our SkillSET programme and how it could benefit you!  We will give you an insight into the service the team can provide from CV building, job application, help to preparing potential interview questions and even arranging mock interviews to prepare you for real job interview environments. We have many areas that we could potentially support and our Workable programme gives you support after you gain employment to make sure your working life is tailored to suit your needs. We understand that there is a myth around benefits and we are on hand to answer questions and give you the facts around working with sight loss. We have a member of staff sharing their journey back into the world of Employment and some of the issues and barriers they faced and how they overcame them. This will also highlight the use of assistive technology and how some of these may help you in the future!

We want this to be an interactive meeting and we will factor in Q&A time so you can ask the staff what you want to know and we will have a go at providing you with the information and if it’s something that we need to follow up on after we are willing to do so.

Contact Fiona for more information at [email protected] or mobile 07514 623182.

Are you aged 18-35?

Our next meet-up will take place on Saturday 22 June – join us for a picnic in Hillsborough. Travelling from Belfast at 10.30am. Returning 2.30pm. This is a fun, welcoming group. If you are aged 18-35 and want to meet up with others, contact Fiona for more information.

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

Feel Good Armagh – The Mall from 10am to 1pm

RNIB's community connection team will be in Armagh on Saturday 15 June, if you are out and about call in and say hello.

Sunday and Monday 18 and 19 June

NIBGA are hosting the British blind and disabled championships at Massereene Golf club.

• Ballymena VIP group - Meet the second Monday every month in the Ballymena Library. For further info contact: [email protected].
• Ballee VIP club – Entertainment on every two weeks from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Phone Sammy McAuley for further information on 0780 888 1520. Check out Balee VIP Facebook page.
• Banbridge ‘Tandem and Walking’ Group ‘TWG+’. Tandem Club: Lurgan Park from after Easter to end of August at 7pm. Walking club: Parks across Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge areas. Every fourth Wednesday every month from 9.30am to 3pm all year. Contact: Doreen McFarlane on 07734723575.
• ‘Banbridge VIP’ Group - First Wednesday of the month from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at the Anglers Building, Havlock Park, Church Street, Banbridge, BT32 4QA. Contact: Doreen McFarlane on 07734723575. New members welcome.
• Bangor - Lots happening in the Bangor area too, book clubs, men’s groups, bowling etc., for further info contact: [email protected].
• Belfast Macular Group - Every second Tuesday in the month from 11am to 12:30pm at Cregagh Library, Belfast. Contact: Emma Baxter at [email protected].
• Edgecumbe VIP club - Social group at Inverary Community Centre, East Belfast. New members welcome. Fortnightly Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Contact: Stephen Norris on 074 6286 7526.
• Atlanta swimming club - Wednesdays from 11am to 12pm at Shankill Leisure Centre, Belfast. Contact: Mina Gillespie. Waiting list in place.
• Acorn arts group - Thursdays from 10am to 12pm at Divis Community Centre. Contact: Open Arts. Waiting list in place.
• “Archery for everyone” - Beginners courses happening now in Greenisland Community Centre. If interested contact: David at [email protected].
• Larne Macular Group - Meet first Monday in the month from 10:30am to 12pm in Upper Crust restaurant, Main Street Larne. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07951746093.
• Carrickfergus Macular group - Meet every fourth Tuesday in the month from 11am to 12:30pm in Northlands Court, Northlands, Carrickfergus. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07951746093.
• Newtownabbey Macular group - Second Wednesday in the month from 11am to 12:30pm in Glengormley Library, Carnmoney Road, Glengormley. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07951746093.
• VI Tennis - If you are interested in joining the VI Tennis groups in Belfast, get in touch! Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Fermanagh VIP Club - Meet every second Friday in Enniskillen for chat and activities. Contact: Una on 07702 140761.
• Macular Degeneration Group (Limavady library) - First Monday of the month. Next meeting is Monday 6th March from 10:30am. To register interest contact (not in the summer).
• Macular Degeneration Group (Coleraine) - 2nd Thursday of the month from 1pm-3pm at 1st Coleraine Presbyterian Church Hall. Contact Macular Degeneration Society.
• Deafblind NI support group - Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month from 1 – 2:30pm at 1st Coleraine Presbyterian Church Hall. 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 their newsletter.
• EYEspeak Omagh - Self-help support group meet regularly for leisure and learning. Contact: Una on 07702 140761.
• 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 visit our talk and support page.