RNIB NI Community Connection

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

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

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

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

Bangor Audio Book club

Where: Ava Restaurant, 132 Main Street, Bangor BT20 4AG

When: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 2pm

Contact: Ken Carson on 07753599985

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

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

Read aloud in Ards Library

Where: Ards Library

When: First Wed in month

Time: 11am to 12pm

Anyone is welcome to come along to this - friends and family too

Libraries NI choose a book; poem or short story to read and discuss over a cuppa

Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761

Ards Monthly brunch

Where: The Regency Cafe
When: Third Wed in month
Time: 11am to 12.15pm
All welcome
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761

VI Bowls at Pickie Bowling club, Bangor

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

Contact: Joe Bourke on 07532758755

LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide)
Where: Online via teams
When: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 6.30pm to 7.45pm
New members welcome
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

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

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

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

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

Foyle monthly brunch
Where: Café Central, Bishop Street (opposite Holywell Trust)
When: 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.

Read aloud in Derry City Library
Where: Derry City Library
When: every fortnight - so email or text for next date
Time: 11.30am to 12.30pm
Anyone is welcome to come along to this - friends and family too
Libraries NI choose a book; poem or short story to read and discuss over a cuppa
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bangor's VI Campaign group

Where: Bangor Library, Hamilton Road, BT20 4LH
When: Bi-Monthly on the first Friday
Time: 12pm (Noon) - next date is April

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

Big Tony’s quiz

Where: Join Live in RNIB - Connect Northern Ireland Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI

When: Last Friday of every month

Time: 2pm

How does it work? Tune into Tony, he asks questions via live facebook and we put the answers in the comments box!

Prizes? Not a chance!

Is it competitive? just a tad!

18-35 Group
Where: Various locations
When: One Saturday near to the end of every month
Time: 11am to 3pm

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.

LGBTQ face to face meet up bi-monthly

Where: Various locations

When: One Saturday a quarter

Time: Approx. 1pm to 3pm
If you are VI and identify as a member of the LGBTQ community you are very welcome; for queries or any info please contact Una (details below)

Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761.

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

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

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

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

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

Larne
Where: Larne Market Yard
When: Fourth Thursday of the month
Time: 10.30am to 12pm

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

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

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

Limavady
Where: Limavady Library
When: First Monday of the month
Time: 10.30am

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

Ballymena
Where: First Ballymena Presbyterian Church Hall
When: 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
Where: Ballymena Library
When: Second Monday every month
Time: 11am-12.30pm
Contact: [email protected]

Ballee VIP club - music and dancing
Where: Ballee VIP club in Ballymena
When: Wed evenings

Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Contact: Sammy McAuley on 07808881520 or Ballee VIP Facebook page.

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

Banbridge VIP Group
Where: Anglers Building, Havlock Park, Church Street, Banbridge
When: 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
Where: Cookstown Library: 13 Burn Road, Cookstown, BT80 8DJ, Tel: 028 8676 3702
When: Second Monday of each month
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm
Contact: 07561 632612 or [email protected]

Tea, Story & Chat (Monthly)
Where: Cookstown Library, 13 Burn Road, Cookstown BT80 8DJ

When: Third Wednesday of the month
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Facilitated by: Kendra Reynolds (Branch Library Manager) Telephone: 028 8676 3702.

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

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

Atlanta swimming club
Where: Shankill Leisure Centre
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 11am to 12 noon
Contact: Mina Gillespie, please note there is a waiting list for this activity

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: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

Deafblind NI support group
Where: First Coleraine Presbyterian Church Hall
When: 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-organised support group who meet regularly for leisure and learning
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.

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

Where: Museums NI - see contact below
When: 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-
Where: Centre Facilitated by Windsor tennis club
Time: 11.30am - 1.30pm
Contact: Simon McFarland, 07851 282210

RNIB Talk and Support phone groups

The RNIB Talk and Support team run free phone befriending social groups for adults with sight loss across the UK. They provide an opportunity for people to socialize in small groups by phone to build friendships and get peer support with other people in a similar situation. They match individuals together for conversations based on group preferences

For more information contact RNIB Helpline.

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

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

VI Judo Causeway (Thursdays)
Where:: North Coast Grappling, 17 Victoria St, Ballymoney
When: Every Thursday

Time: 5:30pm

Cost: £3 per session
Open to new members
Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07711190440

Rise and Shine Ladies Coffee
Where: Greggs Café (next door to the Forum) Coleraine
When: 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

Where: face to face and online

When: Second Wed every Quarter (Wed 12 March 2pm to 4pm)
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Contact: Elaine Manson, mobile 07734980687 or [email protected].

Talking Newspapers provide free audio versions of local news which is sent to users by post (Articles for the Blind means post is free of charge). Some Talking Newspapers also offer a podcast.

Contact [email protected] to find out what's in your area and to sign up