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RNIB NI Community Connection

Meet or connect with others who are blind or partially sighted to share interests, experiences and support for each other.

Our friendly, helpful and knowledgeable team can link you up with opportunities to suit you both within RNIB and the wider world.

Our community-led groups can provide a safe environment for you to talk openly.  We also have a variety of ways to connect you with others by phone and online - see the list of local groups below that are currently running in your area.

Our Community Access team provide person-centred practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people within their local community to build confidence and independence. Enabling those with sight loss to live a full and independent life.

RNIB's Facebook groups are a welcoming and supportive space for people affected by sight loss. Become part a community united by shared experiences by joining your local group today at facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI.

Get in touch to find out more!

April 2024 NI (Northern Ireland) Community Connection Programme

Mondays

  • ‘Insight’ Social support Group (Mid-Ulster, Cookstown) - Usually first Monday of each month - Due to the May Bank Holiday this month it will be Monday 13 May, 1pm 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 6 May from 2PM to 4PM. The speaker for this session is Iain Irvine from RNID. Contact: [email protected] mobile: 07951746093.
  • Boccia – Monday 20 May (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.
  • Open meeting for all VI community - Monday 13 May, 11am. Ballymena Central Library. RNIBS Community Connection team is working with Ballymena VIP group to hold an open meeting for all VI community in the area. We are looking at creating a monthly brunch or working with DSNI to start a boccia group or whatever the community would like. Please share. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761 or [email protected] or or Mob: 07711190440.
  • Belfast Tandem cycle session - Monday 13 and 20 May, 2pm - 3pm. Ormeau Park.
    Facilitated by DSNI and Sustrans. Booking essential. Contact [email protected] or 07802 865579.

Tuesdays

  • Omagh Walking group (weekly) - Walk and talk as you lap the track at Omagh Leisure centre. Be there and ready to walk for 12pm. You're 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 (8 May). Rosmar Café at 10.45am. All welcome. For more info contact: George Cooke on 07732 171044.
  • 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 7 May (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) - 2-3pm (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.
  • Tandem cycling Belfast - Tuesday 7, 14, and 21 May, Ormeau Park 5.30pm – 7pm. Facilitated by DSNI and Sustrans volunteers. Booking essential. Contact [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579.
  • Ulster Museum Belfast - monthly talk and handling session. Facilitated by museum staff. Tuesday 14 May, 2pm – 3pm. Theme this month is 'Discover nature.' 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.
  • Tuesday 21st May - history walk and talk around Sailorstown area of Belfast. Faciliated by Maritime Belfast. Restricted numbers and booking essential. Contact [email protected] or 07802865579.

Wednesdays

  • Read aloud in Ards library - Wednesday 1 May 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.
  • Ards monthly brunch – all welcome. Wednesday 15 May at The Regency Cafe from 11am to 12.15pm. 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 15 May at 6.30 pm to 7.30pm. New members welcome. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.
  • Gardening Club - Belfast - second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 8th May 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 10.30am - 12.30pm Royal Avenue. Next meeting 15 May. 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.
  • Downpatrick out and about, Focus on tech session – Wednesday 29 May. We're back in Downpatrick from 11.00am - 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. We are having a ‘Focus on Technology’ during this session and we aim to improve your knowledge on accessible technologies and to give you the confidence to start using technology on a day-to-day basis or alternatively to build on any existing knowledge you already have. Subjects will include getting the most from your mobile phone and tablet, Useful Apps, Alexa and other personal assistant devices, Top Tips and much more! During the session, you'll receive practical advice, information and guidance. You'll also have the chance to learn from each other's personal experiences and share top tips. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
  • Dungannon monthly audio book club - Dungannon Library on Weds 29 May from 11 to 12.30pm. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. For further info contact Paul McKearney at [email protected].

Thursdays

  • Foyle monthly brunch - The Sandwich Co on Bishop Street on Thurs 2 May at 12pm. All welcome – bring you friends if you want. Just a social together to catch up over brunch. Contact: [email protected].
  • Derry City Library - Read aloud (every fortnight). Thursday 2, 16 and 30 May 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. 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 3pm – 4pm. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
  • Causeway Coast VI Bowls (Indoor) - 10.00am to 12pm. Ballybrakes indoor bowling centre, Ballymoney. In partnership with Irish Bowls Federation. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07711190440.
  • 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.
  • Coffee and chat group, Belfast - Thursday 2 May 10.30am. Meeting in the conference room in RNIB, Victoria House, Belfast. Speaker this month is Belfast City council waste management team and we will be looking at how to reduce waste in the kitchen. Booking required limited numbers. Contact [email protected] or 07802 865579.
  • Newry - Thursday 9 May. We're back in Newry from 11am! 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 Thursday 16 May – World War two walking tour of Carrickfergus. This is a closed group. Waiting list in operation. Contact [email protected] or 07802865579.
  • Thursday 23 May – bird song workshop with the British Trust for Ornithology. Hillsborough Castle 10.30am – 3pm. Join us for a morning workshop followed by a walk through the lovely grounds of Hillsborough Castle to try and identify birds by their song. Booking essential. Contact [email protected] or 07802 865579.
  • Thursday 30 May Belfast, our ‘walk in the park’ program starts. Gentle walking 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.
  • VI Gaming – every Thursday 4pm to 5pm - A social group for a chat about gaming. Via Teams. Registration via email [email protected] or mobile 07514 623182.

Fridays

  • Ukulele group – Belfast - Every Friday 10am – 11.15am Divis Community Centre, Belfast. Restricted numbers. Registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
  • West Belfast walk – 10.30am meeting at main gate of Falls Park. 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.
  • Walking Holywood Coastline - Friday 10 May – lunch booked for 12.30pm – need pre order so please rsvp. Meeting in Holywood at 11.20 ish – Portadown line leaves Portadown at 10.15, stopping all stops, (Lurgan 10.21) and Finaghy (10.49) picking up in Lanyon for 11.12. Bangor line leaves at 10.55 and will get in 11.15 - so the Portadown line folks will have a 10 min wait. We can pre-order food with the Dirty Duck – contact me to RSVP and get a menu. We will walk along the coastline then head for lunch; for anyone not wanting to walk – just meet us at the Dirty Duck for 12.10pm. £5 deposit will be paid, so please bring at least £5 in cash to repay. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.
  • VI tennis - 11am – 12.30pm - Belfast Indoor Tennis Centre. Facilitated by Windsor tennis club. Registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 0780 2865579.
  • What’s happening in June: Facebook live audio newsletter - Una will share the Community Connection program in our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI on Thursday 30 May approx.: 3pm.
  • Newtownabbey Swim Group - 9.15 to 11.30am, every Friday morning Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey. Meet in the foyer of the leisure centre at 9.15 with swimsuit on under clothing. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093.
  • Day out in Portrush - Arriving in Portrush for 12pm (10.38 from Derry Station. Leaving from Ballymena train station at 11.03am. Sighted support but no sighted guides. If you need 121 guiding, please bring a friend. For more info contact Brian on 07860 607328 or Jim on 07927155673.
  • 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.

Saturdays

Are you aged 18-35?

Our next meet-up will take place on Saturday 11 May in Belfast at 11am - 2.30pm. This is a fun, welcoming group with lots of plans for the coming months. If you are 18-35 and want to meet up with others, contact Fiona for more information.

Our next session will be a 'Focus on employment session' via teams.

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

External groups

  • Ballymena VIP group - Meet the second Monday every month in the Ballymena Library. Also an RNIB CAN (Campaigns Active Network) campaigning group. 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.

Personal Transcription service

Whether it’s the magical place your favourite book used to take you, or special memories locked in letters and journals that you can no longer read, we understand the importance and power of the written word and how difficult it can be for you to read what you want, when you want.

Life is full of print and the inability to read this can present significant barriers to leading an independent life. Our team can help with removing these barriers. They can help you to stay in touch with your local community, continue to attend social groups and activities, enjoy your favourite hobby, or widen your horizons through education and travel, by simply taking your print and converting it into a format you can read yourself.

What formats do we offer?

  • Audio in human voice or digitally generated synthetic speech, on CD, Daisy CD, USB or as an mp3 file
  • Braille
  • Large and giant print
  • Electronic text
  • Tactile images
  • Accessible sheet music and musical scores

Contact the team on 02922 749668 or 07534 266186 or email [email protected].

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

To join or find out more about any of the above groups contact our RNIB Northern Ireland Community Connection Team: 

Jonathan Adams

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07711190440

Jackie Cotton

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07710066251

Fiona Joyce

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 028 90334105

Mobile 07514 623182

Sharon McClure

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07951746093

Una Mulgrew

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 07702 140761

Olive Rodgers 

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 078 0286 5579