- Walk the Park run Belfast: 6 week walking program looking at the different 5 km park run routes in Belfast. Aim to encourage more walkers out on a Saturday morning at local park run. Beginning Monday 9th September 10am – 1pm. Contact: [email protected] or M: 0780286 5579. Open to anyone who would like to join. Restricted numbers will apply and registration is required.
- Outdoor Bowls Taster Sessions with Irish Bowls Federation
Monday 5th August, 11am-12.45pm, Fairhill Bowling Green, 54-56 Fairhill Road, Cookstown, Co Tyrone BT80 8AY Contact: [email protected] M: 07710066251 - Greenisland Social support group-Greenisland Football Club, Glenkeen Avenue. This group will resume meetings on Monday September 2nd at 2pm-4pm Contact- [email protected] mobile 07951746093
- Boccia (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. This group will resume meeting on Monday 16th September at 2pm.
- Contact: [email protected] M:07951746093
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!
September 2024 NI (Northern Ireland) Community Connection Programme
- Personal first aid session with Proparamedics in Belfast. Tuesday 24th September 10.30am – 12.30pm. Free of charge. Registration required. Contact [email protected] or M: 078 0286 5579
- Limavady brunch
First Tuesday of every month (3 September)
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] M: 07711190440 - Helen’s Bay Open water swim. Tuesday 10 Sept meet at 3.30pm Train leaves Lanyon at 3.12 pm and Bangor at 3.30pm. Partnering up with Swim Ulster agin this year and we’re up the North coast to Helen’s bay. We will be in the water at high tide – 4.15pm. There are no options for hiring wetsuits, so come prepared. Sept is a great time of year anyhow for a swimsuit!! Bring a picnic – and a flask of something hot to warm you up afterwards. For more information and to sign up. Contact: [email protected] or mobile07702 140 761
- HAM radio group - Tuesday 13 August (second Tuesday of the month), 8pm to approx. 9.15pm - Facilitated by Lynette Elliott.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761 - Ballymena brunch
Forth Tuesday of every month (24 Sept)
Fayre Grill café, Wellington Street, Ballymnea
Time: 11am
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761 - Tea, Story & Chat (Monthly)
Closed for Summer Months: July & August
Returning Tuesday 17th September 2024
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] M: 07710066251 - Boccia Mid-Ulster (Weekly for 12 weeks)
Starting Tuesday 3rd September until Tuesday 19th November 2.30-3.30pm
Cookstown Leisure Centre, 78 Fountain Road Cookstown, BT 80 8QF
Contact: [email protected] M: 07710066251
- Read aloud in Ards library
When: Wednesday 4 September
Venue: Ards Library
Time: 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. - Fancy Paddleboarding? Canoeing or kayaking? Wed 4 Sept. Meeting at South lakes leisure centre in Craigavon. We are heading to South Lakes in Craigavon just for that. We want to be there for 12.30 to get a light lunch in the cafe before we get suited and booted and ready to start for 2pm.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761 - Causeway Boccia
When: Wednesdays (weekly)
Venue: Coleraine West Community Centre, The Rope Walk, Coleraine
Time: 2pm –3:15
Contact: [email protected] or Mob:0771119044 - Showbands of the North West – a reminiscence session. Wed 11 Sept @ 11.30. Bring your dancing shoes – you just never know! Tower Museum in Derry City. If you need to meet at the bus station our Foyle friends will meet you there.
Contact: [email protected] or text on 07860 607328
All suggestions greatly accepted for lunch afterwards as a group – it might be nice to stick together – though I know that’s not always possible, pub grub sounds good to me! - LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide)
Wednesday 17 September.
New members welcome
Contact: [email protected] or Mob: 07702140761 - Downpatrick out and about – Wednesday 25 September. 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.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182 - Gardening Club - Belfast - every Wednesday during July and August
Facilitated by Ulster Wildlife Trust and Connswater Homes. Restricted numbers and registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579. - Dungannon monthly audio book club
Where: Dungannon Library
When: Wed 31 July
Time: 11 to 12.30pm
You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you.
For further info contact Paul McKearney [email protected]
- Foyle monthly brunch
Where: The Sandwich Co on Bishop Street
When: Thurs 5 September
Time: 12pm
All welcome – bring you friends if you want
Just a social together to catch up over brunch
Contact: [email protected] or phone 078 6060 7328 - SUMMER SINGING- Fancy a few sessions of singing summer songs- We've joined with Age Ni choir in Newtownabbey for 6 sessions
August 1st and August 8th at 2pm-4pm in St Brigids Church Hall, Ballyclare Road, Glengormley (near Tesco).
If interested contact: [email protected] / 07951746093
Newry out and about – Thursday 12 September We're back in Newry from 11.00am-12.30pm! 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 - 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
- Thursday 19th September - history group visit to Balmoral cemetery. Closed group – restricted numbers waiting list in operation.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579 - Derry City Library
Read aloud (every fortnight)
Thursday 5 September and 19 September. Time: 11.30 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.
6.30pm -7.30pm. Greenisland Community Centre, 15 Glassillan Grove, Greenisland, BT388TB. Coach David Thompson.
Contact: [email protected]g.uk M:07951746093 - Causeway Coast VI Bowls (Indoor) - 10.00am to 12pm – Ballybrakes indoor bowling centre, Ballymoney. In partnership with Irish Bowls Federation
Contact:[email protected] M: 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] M: 07711190440
- West Belfast walk – meeting at the main gate of Falls Park at 10.30am. 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.
- Charles Bonnet Syndrome meet up - F2F. Friday 20 September at 12pm in Victoria house. We welcome Michael Smith from the Campaigns team to join us again as the group develop a strategy to educate professionals on the symptoms and consequences of CBS.
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140761 - Portadown out and about – Friday 27th Sept. We're meeting in Portadown from 11.00am-12.30pm! If you live in the Portadown 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 - 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] M:07951746093 - 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
- Are you aged 18-35?
Our next meet-up will take place on Saturday 28 September in Belfast. 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. - Fancy Paddleboarding? Canoeing or kayaking? Wed 21 Sept. Meeting at South Lakes Leisure Centre in Craigavon. We are heading to South Lakes in Craigavon just for that. We want to be there for 12.30 to get a light lunch in the cafe before we get suited and booted for activity starting at 2pm to 4pm
Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
- Ballymena VIP group - Meet the second Monday every month in the Ballymena Library. 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
