Get in gear for the celebrations with our round up of events, fun ideas, and bright buys for the festive season. Plus who to contact if you need help this Christmas.
Our Christmas appeal
The greatest Christmas gift
Help more blind and partially sighted children escape into a magical world of stories by donating to our Christmas appeal.
Things to do
Christmas gift ideas and events
Time to dust down that tinsel and get ready for Christmas. Plus lots of ways you can support blind and partially sighted people this festive season, from gift ideas to fun things to do.
What's on in theatre
Our theatre listings include audio described Christmas performances.
Microwave Christmas pudding
Treat yourself to this Christmas pudding, a great recipe - made in the microwave. The perfect festive dessert!
Christmas choral music
Enjoy a musical Christmas with our suggestions for finding music in your preferred format.
Cards
Accessible cards
RNIB Christmas cards
Available in ten beautiful designs that are both high contrast and tactile. All of the greetings inside are in both braille and large print. Each pack contains six cards of the same design priced £3.50 and £4.20.
Plain recordable greeting card
Easily record a ten second message and personalise the front with a photo or picture which easily slides into the clear sleeve. The message plays by simply opening the card. Priced £4.95.
RNIB Christmas eCards
Ho ho ho! Celebrate the festive season by sending a free Christmas eCard to friends and family, from a range of exciting designs.
Give us your Christmas stamps!
Last year people like you helped raise £12,000 by
sending in their stamps. As you receive your Christmas post this year - please keep hold of your used stamps and collect them to send in to us. It doesn't matter if they are British stamps or overseas, or first or second class.
Presents
Shop with Amazon and support us
Our top picks of gifts including the 'must have' Christmas present. Find out how you can help blind and partially sighted people as you shop with Amazon.
Accessible products, publications and gifts
New Product Guide - October, Christmas 2011
October's Christmas issue of New Product Guide has all the latest information on accessible products and publications as well as Christmas gift ideas from RNIB.
Talking books gift
Gift subscription to Talking Books
Why not help a loved one discover a new way of reading this Christmas? A perfect gift!
Get involved
Christmas wrapping volunteer
We are running a Christmas wrapping service in Queensgate Shopping centre, Peterborough as part of our ongoing charity of the year partnership. We are looking for volunteers to help wrap Christmas presents for shoppers in return for donations as we aim to beat last years target of £6000 for vital services.
The Loony Dook - are you brave enough?
Plunge into the river Forth on New Year's Day and help raise funds for blind and partially sighted people.
Local fundraising
Get involved in a local fundraising event or volunteer for RNIB in your local community this Christmas!
Christmas raffle
Make 2011 memorable with the RNIB Christmas raffle. You have to be in it to win it!
Travelling
Off to visit friends and relatives? Don't let the travelling be a hassle! Read our
travel section for advice on different types of transport.
If you're travelling with a guide dog, read the
top ten tips for travelling with a dog - courtesty of
Guide Dogs.
Emotional support
Christmas can be stressful for anyone but can be particularly hard if you are feeling down, and coping with sight loss.
RNIB Helpline
Whatever your enquiry, our Helpline team are only a call away.
Our usual opening times are Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5.30pm. Outside these times, leave us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Our opening and closing times differ slightly over the Christmas period:
23 December: 8.45am-5.15pm
29 December: 9am-4.30pm
30 December: 9am-4.30pm
3 January and onwards: normal opening hours
Guide Dogs
If you have a guide dog and need help over Christmas, call your local Guide Dogs district team.
The Samaritans
If you need someone to talk to at Christmas, the Samaritans is a confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK and Ireland.
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Telephone 08457 90 90 90 or Republic of Ireland: 1850 60 90 90
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Minicom number 08457 90 91 92
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Email: jo@samaritans.org
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Post: Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA
Opening times
Most RNIB offices and Action for Blind People Resource Centres close on Thursday 22 December at 5pm and re-open on 29th and 30th December 10am - 3pm.
We are then closed until Tuesday 3rd January when we resume our normal opening hours.
Before coming to visit us, please phone first to check we are open.