Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by RNIB Scotland

RNIB @rnib.bsky.social · 19h

🧵We’re delighted to announce that Simon Antrobus will be our new CEO from early 2026.

Simon joins us from BBC Children in Need with a wealth of experience leading organisations that build services and drive social change, opening opportunities for individuals and communities.

1 3 4

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 1d

Our brilliant Hillside Art Group have a new exhibition called "Touch Woods" at Edinburgh Central Library this month!

They’ve been exploring the forest with painting, clay and tactile sculpture, and you’re invited to come see (and touch) the work.

Info/sales: [email protected]

A collection of trees painted against a white background.

Artwork of muddy ground with footprints and tyre marks in the mud. In the bottom left there is a tree stump, it is surrounded by grass with two discarded coke bottles and a muddy white boot.

1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 6d

Today our Policy Officer, Kirstie, visited Edinburgh Airport as part of her ongoing work with their Accessibility Panel.

She joined airport staff to review assistance services and share advice on how to make air travel easier for blind and partially sighted people.

A group photo at Edinburgh Airport showing members of the Accessibility Panel, including RNIB Scotland Policy Officer Kirstie, alongside airport staff. The group is standing and smiling together in front of the Domestic Arrivals area.

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 9d

We're at Scotland’s biggest volunteering event, @volunteeredinburgh.org.uk's FREE Recruitment Fair!

It takes place on 30 Sept, 10:00–17:30, at St Paul’s & St George’s Church on York Place. Come explore roles supporting blind & partially sighted people!

Find out more at edvolfair.org.uk.

Banner for Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair, 30 Sept 2025. Includes “FREE,” event website edvolfair.org.uk, QR code, and Volunteer Edinburgh logos.

1 1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 12d

As #NationalEyeHealthWeek continues, we’re been reminding everyone how vital regular eye exams are - they’re free in Scotland & can detect eye and general health issues early.

Thanks to MSPs @neilbibby.bsky.social and @suewebbermsp.bsky.social for helping us to highlight #EyeWeek!

Neil Bibby MSP having his eye tested. He eyes are being being scanned by an OCT machine.

Sue Webber MSP having her eyes tested- she is in a dark room and looking into a machine which displays her eyes on a screen.

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 12d

A reminder of Doors Open Days tomorrow! RNIB Scotland HQ at Hillside Crescent in Edinburgh will be open 10am -3pm.

Come and discover how we support blind and partially sighted people across the country. Everyone is welcome!

Get the details at: www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/edin...

A photo down the main corridor of the building, a tactile sign lists everything on the ground floor- including our Product and Advice centre, and everything on the lower ground floor, including our community space.

Alan, holding his folded up white cane, leans over a counter, to get a closer view of some of the magnifiers and other products in our centre.

Neil from our Social Action team demonstrates a lamp at an RNIB Scotland stall.

2 2

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 13d

Update on Café VI opening hours:

Café VI is now open Tues & Fri, 10am–3pm.

We know how much the café means as a place to meet, relax & connect. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, we can keep it going twice a week and we can’t wait to welcome you for a good cuppa and a blether. 🍵☕

Robert the Brew- the Café VI mascot who is a smiling blue teacup wearing a green kilt with a brown sporran, and holding a white cane. Robert is giving a thumbs up.

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 14d

We’re thrilled to share that our amazing volunteer, Alan MacDonald, has won Lidl's search to be the voice of its Scottish self-checkouts!

Alan: “Thank you to everyone who voted, I’m very excited and proud to have won!”

Congrats Alan!

news.stv.tv/west-central... @lidlgb.bsky.social

Man chosen to voice Lidl’s Scottish tills provides hometown’s ‘friendly’ accent

The voice of Alan MacDonald, from Oban, will guide shoppers through the chain’s self-checkouts.

news.stv.tv

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 16d

This National Eye Health Week we're launching our Scottish Parliament election manifesto- Looking for a better Scotland.

8 key areas to improve life for blind and partially sighted people, and prevent sight loss.

Read more: www.rnib.org.uk/news/looking...

#EyeWeek #NEHW #VisionMatters

Looking for a better Scotland

If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

www.rnib.org.uk

1 1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 21d

An engaging morning at #SVS2025, opening with an address by the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, and a host of fantastic speakers on technology innovation, co-design, lived experience, and inclusive communication. More to come this afternoon!

A large room with delegates sat around tables. At the front of the room, there are two screens, showing a video address by the Jenni Minto MSP.

1 1 1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 21d

We’re proud to be taking part in #DoorsOpenDays this year! Explore RNIB Scotland's HQ and discover how we support blind and partially sighted people across the country.

Pop by 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh on Sat 27 September, 10am - 3pm.

More: https://bit.ly/4n6QSrT

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 21d

Looking forward to a day of interesting discussion and collaboration! #SVS2025

Svs slides, titled Putting accessibility at the centre of eye care, 17 September 2025

2

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 22d

A massive well done to JessicaJane, her dad Kris, the rest of the clan who took part in #EdinburghKiltwalk for Team RNIB!

Why did they do it? Find out more: www.rnib.org.uk/news/charity...

JessicaJane in a pink RNIB t-shirt sticking out her tongue while holding a Saltire, with the rest of the family including Kris in the middle, around her in white RNIB t-shirts, holding flags, and giving thumbs ups. Kiltwalk banners are in the background.

1 1

Reposted by RNIB Scotland

YouthLink Scotland @youthlinkscot.bsky.social · 27d

🔎 Yesterday our staff took part in a training session by @rnibscotland.bsky.social, learning about accessibility for people with visual impairments 👀

ℹ️ Their Café VI is open Mon-Fri at Hillside Crescent, as well as a Products For Life Store offering a range of different aids, equipment & tech!

The YouthLink Scotland staff team wearing visual impairment demonstration goggles alongside an RNIB staff member and volunteer.

2 1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 27d

Did you know that you can set up a reminder to add alt text on BlueSky?

Just go to Settings, then Accessibility and make sure "Require alt text before posting" is toggled on - it’s a handy way to make sure you never forget, and it helps blind and partially sighted people to enjoy your posts!

Alan and Yvonne, chat and smile beside a buffet table covered with a bright pink RNIB Scotland cloth at our Hillside building. The table has plates of food and drinks, and the space is a modern, well-lit room with large windows, a kitchenette, and chairs.

9 9

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · 29d

How did blind comedian Jamie MacDonald get on at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe?

He recently spoke to @rnibradio.bsky.social about his highlights, the challenges of navigating the city, and what’s next.

Listen here: audioboom.com/posts/876941...

Jamie in an orange suit, with volunteer Bill, both standing in front of a wall of Fringe posters.

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Sep 3

Only 25% of Scottish councils meet the 4-week standard for habilitation support, and some children with vision impairment wait 18 months for help with basic independence skills.

We're urging immediate action and funding to end delays.

Read the full story here: bit.ly/3VsT28P

Children with vision impairment waiting up to 18 months for essential life skills training

If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

bit.ly

1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 22

Jamie MacDonald’s Edinburgh Fringe strategy:

Survive medieval stairs, dodgy street closures, and endless crowds. Luckily he’s got his own real-life knights in shining armour (a.k.a. our volunteers Bill & Iain) to navigate the chaos!

Read the full story: www.rnib.org.uk/news/blind-c...

Jamie in an orange suit and white t-shirt, with Bill in a blue shirt, both smiling together in front of a large wall of Fringe posters.

3 1

Reposted by RNIB Scotland

Henry Hepburn @henryhepburn.bsky.social · Aug 21

Only 1 in 4 Scottish local authorities meets the national standard for habilitation support, leaving some children with vision impairment waiting more than a year for help with basic independence skills, finds report by @rnibscotland.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Children with vision impairment can wait 18 months for basic help

Habilitation services, which are crucial if children with vision impairment are to overcome educational and other barriers, face a ‘growing crisis’ in Scotland

www.tes.com

5 3

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 15

Our Edinburgh community hub is open again!

With a new café, advice store and welcoming community area, our new centre at Hillside Crescent is a space to connect, chat and access support.

We also honoured former Chair Sandra Wilson with a dedicated boardroom in her name.

James, Sarah, Matt, and Kirin cut the pink ribbon outside Hillside.

The large group of attendees stand outside the front entrance of RNIB Scotland’s Hillside Crescent building. Some are wearing RNIB t-shirts, and several guide dogs are present. The group includes staff, volunteers, and members of the blind and partially sighted community.

Sandra's niece and nephew stand beside a plaque unveiling the Sandra Wilson Boardroom at RNIB Scotland. The plaque honours the late Sandra Wilson for her leadership and support of RNIB Scotland.

People gather inside the newly refurbished RNIB Scotland hub in Edinburgh. Tables are covered in bright pink cloth, displaying accessible aids and equipment. A guide dog stands beside a woman speaking with a man in an RNIB t-shirt. Others mingle and chat in the background.

1 1 2

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 11

Did you know that you can set up a reminder to add alt text on BlueSky?

Just go to Settings, then Accessibility and make sure "Require alt text before posting" is toggled on - it’s a handy way to make sure you never forget, and it helps blind and partially sighted people to enjoy your posts!

Alan, a member of RNIB Scotland’s Advisory Group, stands at a pedestrian crossing in Glasgow city centre. He is wearing a blue hat, dark sunglasses, a blue checked shirt, and a navy blazer, and smiling while holding a white cane in one hand and feeling for the spinning cone under the crossing button with the other. The signal box displays the word ‘WAIT’. A red car and a double-decker bus are visible in the background.

2

Reposted by RNIB Scotland

Extant @extantltd.bsky.social · Aug 5

We have free tickets available for 3 Enhance shows at ZOO venues on 12th & 13th August! These are for visually impaired audience members and are on a first come first served basis. All shows have a pre-show Touch Tour with programme notes.
Email [email protected]
extant.org.uk/project/edin...

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 - EXTANT

Covering all the accessible shows for visually impaired people across Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, featuring Extant's Enhance shows.

extant.org.uk

2

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 5

Scott hopes to complete his subway series and develop it into a larger piece. We can’t wait for what he creates next! (5/5)

The 12 artworks so far displayed together showing how 2 of 3 colours are used in the following journey's representation so that the whole series flows together. Each painting is a colourful design, with a vertical split down the middle, and the right side usually busier with more line work and patterns. Underneath each oval is a colour key naming the 3 predominant colours used, and the journey represented.

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 5

Scott took up painting after a stroke affected his vision three years ago. Art became a way to express what he experiences visually. Each is painted in a oval, representing both the field of vision, and the Glasgow subway map. (4/5)

A vivid oval watercolour divided vertically, representing the journey between Buchanan Street and Cowcaddens. The left side blends soft washes of cobalt turquoise, Prussian blue, and cadmium red, creating a smoky texture. The right side contrasts sharply with dense, layered black and white lines, scribbles, and patterns over a blue and brown base. It feels busy and chaotic compared to the calm left side.

1 1

RNIB Scotland @rnibscotland.bsky.social · Aug 5

His subway series reflects these hallucinations: shifting colours, busy patterns, and moving shapes, especially on the right side of his vision, where he experiences more patterns and movement. (3/5)

Another circular oval watercolour artwork, this one represents Govan to Ibrox. It uses orange, white, and cerulean blue. On the left, soft oranges and white swirl together, while the right side features darker strokes of black layered over blue and white. The centre blends the two sides with sweeping brushstrokes.

1