Our aim is to ensure that blind and partially sighted people of any age, from any location in Northern Ireland are able to be involved in sport and leisure activities, whether that is as a participant or as a spectator.
This page outlines how we can help, and gives you contact details to find out more.
Partially Sighted Football
RNIB NI with its partner organisation The Irish Football Association runs several clubs throughout Northern Ireland.
The clubs are run for both junior and senior partially sighted players and are held in Lisburn, Londonderry and soon in Omagh.
The Lisburn club plays at the Lisburn Leisureplex and starts its autumn programme on Saturday 26 September right through until 12 December, with juniors playing from 10am till 11am and seniors from 11am till 12pm.
Details of the dates and times of the Londonderry and Omagh clubs will be available soon.
Blind Football
Our Blind football club meets monthly in Belfast and Londonderry and will start later in September. Details of the venues and dates will be announced shortly.
For further information contact Niall Dempsey on 028 9032 9373 or Mal Donaghy of the IFA on 028 9066 9458.
Goalball
In conjunction with Goalball NI, the established club playing at Lisneal College in L/Derry will soon be joined by clubs in Belfast and Omagh. Again our playing season starts in September and dates will be confirmed in the near future.
Tandem
We run several tandems from our premises in Belfast, with volunteer Pilots available to meet and cycle with anyone wishing to get involved. Just contact us to make arrangements to meet and ride out with one of our volunteers.
Other sports and activities
RNIB NI also has over 20 different sporting and leisure groups that meet on a regular basis throughout Northern Ireland. From walking to swimming, from ten pin bowling to yoga. Please contact us and find out what is available in your area.
Soccer Sight
The Irish Football Association (IFA) in partnership with RNIB NI introduced Soccer Sight at Northern Ireland's game against Sweden on 28 March 2007.
Soccer Sight is a special service to help football supporters who have difficulty seeing the action on the field. Blind and partially sighted fans will be given an earpiece through which they can listen to an audio description of the game provided by a trained commentator.
Tickets are available at reduced prices for the person with sight loss and their guide.
We are hopeful to extend this service to League matches around Northern Ireland in the near future.
Further information can be obtained from David Bowen on 028 9032 9373
Share Centre Holiday Chalet
RNIB NI owns a holiday chalet at the Share Centre Holiday village in Lisnaskea, Fermanagh and this is available for hire throughout the year for the benefit of groups or individual families with blind or partially sighted members.
The chalet can accommodate up to 14 people, who can either use the fully equipped kitchen for self catering or take advantage of the Share Centres own catering facilities.
The Share Centre offer many sporting and leisure activities which can be booked with them but most importantly our chalet offers a great holiday or respite location in the quiet and tranquil surroundings of Upper Lough Erne at a very reasonable price.
Advice and support
It is our aim to assist individuals in accessing the sport of their choice through our existing groups, or through our links with sporting clubs, sporting organisations and sporting national governing bodies.
Whether it is golf or goalball, walking or wind-surfing, we will do our utmost to see that you can be involved.
Contact us
If you would like to find out more about the services, support, information and activities RNIB Northern Ireland's Sport and Leisure Services offer, email sportsni@rnib.org.uk or contact Keith Lound on 028 9032 9373
Address:
RNIB Northern Ireland
40 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BA
Tel: 028 9032 9373