RNIB NI Community Connection

• Walk in Hillsborough walled garden and enjoy the scarecrow parade! - Monday 6 November at 10.20am. Meet at the gates of Hillsborough Castle or travel from Belfast -meet at the Europa bus station at 9.30am. Hillsborough Castle’s Scarecrow Parade returns for another year! The Walled Garden is overrun with an array of fictional characters including our very own scarecrow made with artist Shauna McGowan! What stories will you uncover? Join us for a walk in the Walled Garden at Hillsborough Castle. Some volunteer assistance available on first request basis. To register contact Fiona - [email protected].
• ‘Insight’ Social support Group (Mid-Ulster, Cookstown) - Usually first Monday of each month - Monday 6 November, 3pm to 4.30pm, Cookstown Community Centre, 42 Fairhill Road, Cookstown, BT80 8AG. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07710066251.
• Social Support Group (Greenisland) - Monday 6 November at 2pm Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093. One off event and everyone is welcome to join us listening to James McVicker from Deaf/Blind NI to hear about their services.
• 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
• Boccia – (in partnership with Greenisland Football Club and Community Sports Network) - Monday 20 November at 2pm to 4pm and every third Monday in month. At 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

• Limavady monthly meet up - Tuesday 7 November, 12.45 to 1.45pm at Limavady library. All welcome – make new friendships in your local area. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140 761.
• 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.
• Ulster Museum – Botanic, Belfast.  Tuesday 14 November 2pm – 3pm talk and handling session. Theme: Discover history. Facilitated by NMNI. Restricted numbers. Booking required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• HAM radio group - Tuesday 14 Nov (second Tuesday of the month), 8pm to approx. 9.15pm - Facilitated by Lynette Elliott. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.
• Beauty treatment day South East College Bangor – Tuesday 21 November – free morning of treatments with the students at Bangor college followed by lunch.  Restricted numbers . Contact [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579.
• Tea, Story and Chat (Monthly) - Tuesday 28 November 2-3pm, Cookstown Library, Burn Road Cookstown. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07710066251.

• Read aloud in Ards Library - Wednesday 1 Nov at 11am. Facilitated by Libraries NI in partnership with RNIB Community Connection. All welcome. This is a lovely way to spend an hour – listening to someone reading a short story or a poem and then discussing the piece.  Tea, coffee and biscuits. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Ards monthly brunch  - Third Wednesday of every month – Wednesday 15 November, 11am to 12.15pm. Venue: Regency Café, Main Street, Ards . All welcome – make new friendships in your local area. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Causeway Boccia - every Wednesday, 2pm to 3.15pm. Venue: Coleraine West Community Centre, The Rope Walk, Coleraine. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07711190440.
• Humanware Technology Event - Wednesday 8th November, 10.30am-1pm, Cookstown Library, Burn Road, Cookstown. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07710066251.
• LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide) - Wednesday 15 Nov at 6.30 pm to 7.30pm. New members welcome. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Craft group – Belfast. Meet 3rd Wednesday in month 10.30am - 12.30pm. Venue: 2 Royal Avenue. Facilitated by Robins Hobby café. Small charge to cover materials. Restricted numbers and pre booking and payment required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Gardening Club - Belfast - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Facilitated by Ulster Wildlife Trust and Connswater Homes. Restricted numbers and registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Monthly audio book club in Dungannon library - Wednesday 22 Nov from 11 to 12.30pm. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. For further info contact Paul McKearney [email protected].
• Downpatrick Christmas lunch - Wednesday 29 Nov – 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 (Royal National Institute of Blind) Community Connection team for tea/coffee and a chat. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07514 623182.

• Foyle monthly brunch - First Thursday of every month - Thursday 2 November, at the Jam, Richmond Centre, Derry, 12pm.  All welcome. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Read Aloud Derry Central library - Every fortnight from 11.30 to 12.30. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Foyle Boccia and tandem cycling - Starting at 1pm to 2pm in the Foyle arena, Thursday 9 November for 8 weeks. Contact: [email protected] or mob: 07702 140 761.
• New Event - Are you a diamond? If you're interested in having a good singalong come along to 8 weekly sessions celebrating 75 years (Diamond anniversary) of HSC. RNIB in partnership with Arts Care are having 8 weekly sessions on Thursday mornings  at 10.30am In Carrickfergus Community Forum, 31 Lancasterian Street Carrickfergus, above Poundland. Dates are 16th, 23rd, 30th November, 7th and 14th Dec and a few sessions in the new year. Come along and have a bit of company and craic. If interested please contact [email protected] or 07951746093.
• Coffee and chat – Belfast city centre 10am – 11.30am. Contact [email protected] or mobile: 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.
• Newry - Thursday 9 November. We’ll be hosting another of our popular information events from 10.30am through to 12.30pm. Call in, grab a cuppa and learn about the services and support RNIB offer to anyone affected by sight loss. Louise Kenny, our Product for Life Coordinator, will be there to demonstrate some amazing RNIB products and talk you through handheld magnifiers, electronic magnifiers and lighting. Registration is essential via email [email protected] or mobile 07514 623182.
• Archery for Everyone - Weekly on Thursday evenings. New beginners course continues at 6pm -7.30pm at Greenisland Community Centre, 15 Glassillan Grove, Greenisland, BT38 8TB. Coach David Thompson. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093
• History group Belfast – 3rd Thursday of the month. Thursday 16th November – theme – Gaelic East Belfast. Small cost. Closed group – waiting list in operation. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Causeway Coast VI Bowls (Indoor) - 10.00am to 12pm – Ballybrakes Indoor Bowling Centre. In partnership with Irish Bowls Federation and Portrush Bowling Club. 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.
• Bowel cancer screening information session. Thursday 23rd November 2pm via Zoom . Facilitated by WRDA. Registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Raising awareness about RNIB support and Services - Thursday 23rd November at the Canal Court Hotel Newry 10am – 1pm. Clanrye Group annual Carers Rights Day. For more information email [email protected] or mobile 07514 623182.
• Newcastle out and about - Thursday 30 November. We're back in Newcastle from 11.30am-1pm! If you live in the Newcastle 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
• Online Book group – new monthly book group - facilitated by Libraries NI via Zoom. Last Thursday in the month 3pm – 4pm. Next meeting Thursday 30th November. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579

• 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
• VI tennis - 11am – 12.30pm - Belfast Indoor Tennis Centre. Facilitated by Windsor tennis club. Registration required: contact [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579
• Christmas craft  - Friday 24th November 11.30am - 1pm Divis community centre. The first of two sessions facilitated by Julieanne Crothers. In this first session we will be making Christmas angels. Small cost to cover materials. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07802 865579
• What’s happening in Oct: Facebook live audio newsletter - Una will share the Community Connection program in our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI on Thursday 28 Sept approx.: 3pm
• Swim Group - 9.15 to 11.30am, Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey. Meet in the foyer of the leisure center at 9.15 with swimsuit on under clothing. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093
• Rise and Shine Ladies Coffee and Chat (Coleraine) - Friday 28 Nov (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

Are you aged 18-35?

Our fourth meet-up will take place on Saturday 4th November in Belfast – details to follow. If you are 18-35 and want to meet up with others, contact Fiona for more information. Get in touch to find out about our December Christmas plans!

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

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

• 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 – every 2 weeks. Entertainment from 7:30 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) - at Parks across Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge areas. Fourth Wednesday every month from 9:30am to 3pm all year. Contact: Doreen McFarlane on 07734723575.
• ‘Banbridge VIP’ Group - at Banbridge Health and Social Care Centre. Twice monthly from 7pm to 9pm, first and third Wednesday of the month. 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 - at Cregagh Library, Belfast. Every second Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12:30pm. Contact: Emma Baxter at [email protected].
• Edgecumbe VIP club - at Inverary community center, east Belfast. Held fortnightly on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Social group. New members welcome. Contact: Stephen Norris on 074 6286 7526.
• Atlanta swimming club - at Shankill Leisure center, Belfast. Every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm. Contact Mina Gillespie. Waiting list in place.
• Acorn arts group - at Divis community center on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm. Contact: Open Arts. Waiting list in place.
• Archery for everyone - Beginners courses happening now at Greenisland Community Centre. If interested contact David at [email protected].
• VI Tennis - If you are interested in joining the VI Tennis groups in Belfast, get in touch! Contact: [email protected]. Mobile: 07802 865579.
• Fermanagh VIP Club - Meet every second Friday in Enniskillen for a chat and activities. Contact Una on 07702 140761.
• Macular Degeneration Group (Limavady library) - First Monday of the month. Next meeting is Monday 6 March, 10:30am. To register interest contact (not in the summer)
• Lisburn outlook – from coffee mornings to tandem cycling. If you live in or near Lisburn, please contact: [email protected] to receive their newsletter.
• Private Eye Group Lurgan - at Lurgan Park Cricket Pavilion. Weekly every Tuesday from 10am to 12:30pm. Social group and walk. Contact: Mil Jamieson on 07753357695.
• EYEspeak Omagh - a self-help support group which meets regularly for leisure and learning. Contact Una on 07702 140761.