Insight on Premier Radio

‘Insight’ programme notes until the end of September 2010

‘Insight’ is a weekly radio programme with a focus on disability and faith produced by Torch Trust, presented by Marilyn Baker, and broadcast on Sundays from 4pm on Premier Christian Radio, now available on DAB.

Go to Audio Downloads to listen to recent programmes

August 29: Loved by God

Marilyn gives her reflections on a Bible story which concerns a disabled man – the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. King David wants to bless the family of his dead friend Jonathan and the defeated Kind Saul and tracks down the forgotten man. He then sets about restoring his fortunes and elevating him. Marilyn shows how this parallels what God wants to do for us – to raise us to the status of being his child, giving us a place of honour at his table.

This programme includes several tracks from Marilyn Baker’s ‘Ultimate Collection’.

September 5: Safe Travelling

Lots of town centres are introducing shared surface streets, where curbs and controlled crossing points are being taken out. The idea is that it looks more attractive and it’s become a fashionable way to rejuvenate a town centre. Pedestrians and vehicles share the same space. But this design often doesn’t work for the most vulnerable in society - children, the elderly, people with learning difficulties, or those with sight loss – for whom this kind of design creates a major hazard.

Sarah Brookman talks to Campaigns Manager David Cowdrey from Guide Dogs about their campaign against shared surfaces.

September: 12 Out and About

Sarah Brookman goes out onto the streets with David Angell to explore the hazards of getting around as a blind person. David has been blind and a long cane user for a long time so says the actual logistics of following a familiar route aren’t a worry to him. But if he goes somewhere new he tries to organise assistance ahead of time where possible, such as at a train station. He will rehearse new routes he needs to follow. David prefers a cane to a guide dog; he says it gives him total independence when you have built up skill using it. The cane scans the pavement left and right in front of him, and walking gets into a rhythm. He finds people are generally very considerate of a cane user.

Sarah says that going out with David made her very aware of how cluttered pavements can be, especially on bin collection day. Cafe signs and outside seating can be problems, also delivery vans parked on the pavement.

September: 19 Inclusive Church

Disability in church life is the topic of discussion between Insight presenter Marilyn Baker, Natalie Andrews, who’s just about to embark on ordination training and is passionate about inclusive Christianity, and Baptist minister Nick Cook.Natalie trained as a speech therapist and is concerned that we become better communicators in church life. Inclusion, she says, is about listening and loving. She believes that we need to pay attention to people’s different learning styles too, incorporating that understanding into the different activities of the church. Also we need to take account of people having different spiritualities - some enjoying silence and reflection, others enjoying action. Natalie is passionate about offering multi-sensory worship experiences, so that we can explore different ways of relating to God.Nick talks about some of the ways in which he aims to make church accessible to all, and he says that at heart it’s about culture. There needs to be an assumption that everyone will play a full part. Everyone has so much to offer. He says variety is key to people accessing things in different ways. We have to reach people where they are. Jesus made God accessible.

September 26: Sight Village

Sheila reports back on her visit to Sight Village in Birmingham in July. She says that this year there was a lot geared towards children. If blind or partially sighted children are in mainstream school they need all the help they can get – such as from magnifiers and reading machines.

Various interview clips from Sight Village are included:

· with Professional Visions Services about their folding portable magnifier;

· with VocalEyes, a national charity offering audio description for arts events;

· with Living Paintings, who are creating a free library of raised tactile images of famous paintings along with audio information on the history, background etc.