RNIB NI Community Connection

• Yoga in the Coaching room of Foyle arena. Monday April 8, 15 and 22. Be there for 11.20am for an 11.30 prompt start. Highly skilled teacher, used to working with the VI community. The Foyle connected community is renowned for their warm welcomes; so bus, train, or helicopter in, someone will meet you at the front door of the Foyle Arena to walk you down if you are unsure of the building! No excuses! Contact: Brian on 07860607328 if you need further information.
• ‘Insight’ Social support Group (Mid-Ulster, Cookstown) - Usually first Monday of each month - 3pm to 4.30pm, Cookstown Community Centre, 42 Fairhill Road, Cookstown, BT80 8AG. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07710066251.
• 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.
• Greenisland Social support group - Greenisland Football Club, Glenkeen Avenue will be on 8 April from 2PM to 4PM. The speaker for this session is Iain Irvine from RNID. Contact: [email protected] mobile: 07951746093.
• Boccia – Monday 15 April (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. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093.

• 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.
• RSPB Belfast's Window on Wildlife (WOW) - Tuesday 9 April 10am – 2pm. RSPB Belfast's Window on Wildlife (WOW) nature reserve at Belfast Harbour Estate is home to birds and wildlife from all over the world. We’re excited to be working with RSPB on improving access to nature experiences for those with sight loss. RSPB are offering us the opportunity to visit and experience the Window on Wildlife reserve, learn more and join a Guided ‘Walk and Talk Ramble’ of reserve! We will be travelling from Wellington place, Belfast near City Hall by bus to the Window on Wildlife reserve - we can meet anyone who'd like to come along at the Europa station that morning! It’s approx. 15 mins on bus. You are very welcome to bring a packed lunch – we’ll have tea/coffee and biscuits there! Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07514 623182.
• HAM radio group - Tuesday 9 April (second Tuesday of the month), 8pm to approx. 9.15pm - Facilitated by Lynette Elliott. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07702 140 761.
• Tea, Story & Chat (Monthly) - 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] Mobile: 07710066251.

• Read aloud in Ards library - Wednesday 3 April at Ards Library from 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.
• Ards monthly brunch – all welcome. Wed 17 April at The Regency Cafe from 11am to 12.15pm. All welcome and bring a friend. Contact: [email protected] or mobile 07702 140 761.
• Causeway Boccia - Wednesdays (weekly) at Coleraine West Community Centre, The Rope Walk, Coleraine from 2pm – 3:15pm. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07711190440.
• LGBTQ+ online monthly meet up (UK wide) - Wednesday 17 April at 6.30 pm to 7.30pm. New members welcome. Contact: [email protected] or Mobile: 07702140761.
• Gardening Club - Belfast - 2 and 4th Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 24th April 10.15am. Facilitated by Ulster Wildlife Trust and Connswater Homes. Restricted numbers and registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Craft group – Belfast. Meet 3rd Wednesday in month 10.30am - 12.30pm Royal Avenue. Next meeting 17 April. Facilitated by Robins Hobby café. Cost £10 to cover venue hire, tuition, and all materials. Restricted numbers and pre booking and payment required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Downpatrick out and about – Wednesday 24 April. 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.
• Dungannon monthly audio book club - Dungannon Library on Weds 24 April from 11 to 12.30pm. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. For further info contact Paul McKearney at [email protected].

• Foyle monthly brunch - The Sandwich Co on Bishop Street on Thurs 4 April at 12pm. All welcome – bring you friends if you want. Just a social together to catch up over brunch. Contact: [email protected].
• Derry City Library - Read aloud (every fortnight). Thursday 4 and 18 April from 11.30am 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 from 6.30pm - 7.30pm. Greenisland Community Centre, 15 Glassillan Grove, Greenisland BT388TB. Coach David Thompson. Contact: [email protected] Mobile: 07951746093.
• Online Book group – monthly book group - facilitated by Libraries NI via Zoom. Last Thursday in the month 3pm – 4pm. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Causeway Coast VI Bowls (Indoor) - 10.00am to 12pm. Ballybrakes indoor bowling centre, Ballymoney. In partnership with Irish Bowls Federation. 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.
• Newry - Thursday 11 April. We're back in Newry from 11am - 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.
• Evening meet up - Thursday 11 April. Venue in Belfast to be decided
• Hillsborough Spring Spectacular - Thursday 18th April. Join us for a gentle springtime walk in Hillsborough gardens where half a million bulbs will be blooming. Stroll through the varied blooms and savour the tranquillity, then we’ll head to café where you can treat yourself to delicious refreshments https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/whats-on/spring-spectacular/ Meeting at the front gates at Hillsborough at 10.15am. For those travelling from Belfast we will meet at the Belfast Europa Bus Station at 9.30 and leave on the 238 bus at 9.45am. Registration essential – Contact: [email protected] 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.
• Newcastle - Thursday 25 April. 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.

• Ukulele group – Belfast - Every Friday 10am – 11.15am Divis Community Centre, Belfast. Restricted numbers. Registration required. Contact: [email protected] or mobile: 07802 865579.
• Belfast boccia session - 11.30am – 12.45pm. Divis community centre. Registration required. Contact [email protected] for details.
• 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: 0780 2865579.
• What’s happening in May: Facebook live audio newsletter - Una will share the Community Connection program in our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectNI on Tuesday 30 April approx.: 3pm.
• 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] Mobile: 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 13 April in Belfast at 11am - 2.30pm. This is a fun, welcoming group with lots of plans for the coming months. If you are 18-35 and want to meet up with others, contact Fiona for more information.

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

• 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 – 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.