Glasgow-based radio celebrates 20 years of broadcasting

Blind and partially sighted presenters of the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) Connect Radio will aim to bust the myths around what people with sight loss can do with the challenges they do. 

The award-winning station in Partick was established by sight loss charity RNIB to provide news to blind listeners and was the first radio station in Europe to do so.

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Its presenters, many of whom have sight loss themselves, will be taking lessons from other blind and partially sighted professionals to learn something new.

Amelia Hilton, RNIB Connect Radio’s Content Producer, said: “I’ve always wanted to try paddle boarding as I grew up by the water in the southeast of England and would often see people gliding across the water on their stand-up paddle boards, but have never made time to do it.

“When we decided to do the Blind Leading activities, I thought I’d seize the opportunity to finally try it and explore nature in a part of Scotland I’d never visited before!

"I really enjoy doing sports but have never really got into water sports, so I’ve had the chance to test a new skill and move my body in a brand new way.

“I love working with my radio colleagues. Since joining the team last year, they’ve made me feel very welcome.

"My highlights have included interviewing literary translator Nichola Smalley and starting up the Round Tables where I get to ask questions to and hear wonderful conversations between blind and partially sighted panellists.”

Amelia and Dean on the water (Image: Supplied)

Amelia had the chance to try out the sport at Clunie Loch, Blairgowrie with Dean Dunbar, a blind water sports enthusiast.

She added: "I searched out Dean online, who in 2017 became the first person to paddle board from North Uist to St Kilda, and it turns out he does loads of other extreme sports!”

This is one of several events that RNIB Connect Radio have organised to celebrate its 20th anniversary, with lessons in pursuits such as singing, skiing and wrestling still to come. 

The station started in 2003, born of a partnership between RNIB, Glasgow City Council and others, including the BBC.

Now RNIB Connect Radio reaches over 80,000 thousand listeners and its podcasts are downloaded over 20,000 times each month.

Prone paddleboarding enthusiast Dean Dunbar became partially sighted overnight at nine years old and was later registered blind, due to rod-cone dystrophy, a condition affecting the eye’s retina.

He said: “I go hooked on adrenaline after my first skydive- two years after being registered blind, and then I got involved in loads of different sports- bungee jumping, snowboarding, mountain biking, and more recently, water sports.

“I’ve been doing stand-up paddle boarding for a few years but after an injury in 2018, I tried lying down paddle boarding, and I’ve been ‘taking it easy’ ever since!

“With sight loss, I can pretty much be left to myself as I know my own local loch well, but for races or in bigger areas of water, I have sighted guides that join me on their own boards and we use an audio device to relay directions.

"With Amelia, we let her try a few different boards and stand-up paddleboarding techniques too, but ultimately it’s just been about enjoying the water!”