Torch Trust is a Christian organisation with a worldwide vision for people with sight loss. We produce a weekly radio programme called Reflections which airs on RNIB Connect Radio. The show focuses on faith and disability in today's world and here you can find a podcast version of the show. Uploaded weekly, after our Sunday broadcasts, this version has had music tracks removed.
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With so many things going on in the world today, from wars and famines, to increased costs of living, it’s easy to feel anxious and perhaps a little sad and confused. Today’s episode reflects on how we can still turn to God’s promise of hope in these confusing times. We hear from Marilyn Baker herself, […]…
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Remembrance Sunday is marked on the closest Sunday to Remembrance day itself and features many of the same rituals, including the wearing of poppies and the two minutes silence. This week’s episode features a conversation between Producer Linn davies and former staff member Matthew Horspool, taken from our Insights podcast, about things blind and p…
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Client Services is the first point of call when you get in touch with Torch, and this week’s episode features new team leader Julie Jones. Julie talks about differences between life in South Africa and the UK, her sight loss journey and the main areas she’d like to focus on in her new job. To […]Torch Trust által
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It’s nearly the end of October. And since this is the first Sunday after the clocks have gone back, Marilyn reflects on different aspects of time, from how Jesus always made time to heal those who needed it, to how time is a love language. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call […]…
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This episode features some reflections from Marilyn’s personal podcast Hope For The Heart. She touches on how different people in the Bible dealt with the huge responsibilities and blessings they were entrusted, including Mary, who became the earthly mother of Jesus. She also shares a real life story about the positive effects of love and […]…
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In this week’s episode we give you a special edition celebrating Sight Loss Sunday. This is Torch’s invitation to churches to wake up to the gifts of blind and partially sighted people. We hear this year’s sermon by Phil Bryson and reflections on what it’s like to be blind and partially sighted and in leadership […]…
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Today Autism and neurodiversity is something we’re getting a much better understanding of, though, if you’ve met one Autistic person, you’ve only met one. When author Robert Noble was growing up in the 50s and 60s however, his conditions were not well understood, landing him in a variety of different situations from the funny to […]…
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This week, we’re sitting down to speak with Revd Canon Michael Mitton, writer, speaker and director, who is going to lead the upcoming 2025 Torch Retreat. We talk about how he got into writing, and dig deeper into the subject of God through the four Seasons, which he will be talking about at the retreat. […]…
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Reflections Podcast 21.09.2025 In The Presence of Angels
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18:56Angels appear frequently in the Bible, and many of us probably have an idea of what angels might look, feel or sound like. This episode features an interview with Stephanie Sergeant, who shares the many ways she believes angels have come to her aid. Marilyn also shares a remarkable angel encounter of her own. To […]…
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This week we’ll hear from Torch Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson about some of the events Torch has participated in recently. This episode also features a devotion by Zoe Byron, Torch’s head of comms, which was first featured on Pure 24 7 breakfast bites. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]…
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Sight Loss Sunday is an annual event in which Torch is encouraging churches to focus on blind and partially sighted people and their gifts and presence in church life. This year’s Sight Loss Sunday takes place 12 October. In this episode, we first speak to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about how her awareness has evolved […]…
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Reflections Podcast 31.08.2025 Author Tracy Williamson
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12:45This week, Marilyn chats with author and friend Tracy Williamson about her book ‘Unashamed’, which is a powerful exploration of how we can experience restoration from life’s hurts with God’s help. Tracey’s book is also available from Torch in a variety of formats for people wishing to find out more. To contact Torch Trust with […]…
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This week Marilyn Baker sits down to talk to Reflections producer Linn Davies-who is a trained journalist, Afrobeats singer and writer. Linn talks about working for the BBC, growing an online platform, writing thrillers and the inspiration behind the featured songs. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@…
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Accessible Christian literature remains at the heart of Torch’s mission. And this week we meet the new resources curator, Janette Sturgis, whose working on expanding our library and bookshop offerings. She talks about her love of working in retail, her evolving understanding of disabilities, and shares details about some new discipleship books whic…
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This week we sit down to a conversation with Torch’s newest trustee Philip Rice. He talks about his love of the Torch Holidays and his passion to bring children and young people to torch-making the client base more age diverse. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or visit […]…
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In this episode we talk to Sarah Brookman, the visionary behind the new Torch Chaplaincy telephone service, which aims to support people going through life changes relating to sight loss. We also hear from Heinrich Barth, one of the chaplaincy volunteers who lost his sight following an brain aneurism in 2019. The conversation with Heinrich […]…
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Reflections Podcast 27.07.2025 Carl Beech
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23:27This week, Christian Vision For Men’s Carl Beech chats to us about living with Early Onset Parkinson’s, and shares how his struggle to live with the disease turned into a remarkable innovation to help battle his Parkinson’s symptoms. Carl demonstrates the device he’s developed during the programme, which when he turns it on demonstrates just how [……
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In this weeks episode we hear from Gareth davies who’s married to Torch Together coordinator Becky Davies. He talks about what makes a good Torch holiday volunteer and shares part of one of the talks he gave on one of the most recent holidays. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]…
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In this episode we speak to Phil Bryson who is a vicar at St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough. He shares how, after becoming partially sighted, he lost his self-confidence and how he now sees it as a strength in his job. He also talks about his long and prayerful way towards fulfilling his calling […]…
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Calling all podcast lovers! We are pleased to let you know that season 2 of our podcast Walking By Faith is coming out. This episode features the first of the Walking By Faith conversations, and a conversation with Torch friend and client Bernie Warren. And former Reflection’s producer Linn Ball reflects on what she’d like […]…
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In this episode, producer Linn Davies is in conversation with Revd Samuel Affel from the Ghana Bible Society about their cooperation with Compass Braille to launch a Braille Bible in Assante Twi. As well as talking about the importance of accessing scripture in ones native language, Samuel also talks about what education and employment is […]…
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Reflections – Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day
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16:55This week on Reflections we mark 2 special occasions – Trinity Sunday, and a special Father’s Day sermon from Rev John Beauchamp too.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast – 25th May 2025 – Dr Krish Kandiah and Foster Care Fortnight
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20:31As Foster Care Fortnight draws to a close, we’re chatting to Dr Krish Kandiah, the founder of the Christian organisation ‘Home For Good’, a charity dedicated to finding a home for every child who needs one.’ Krish is a also a Foster Carer, as well as being a government advisor, and his insight into this […]…
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This week Producer Linn Davies talks to Nayoung Lee, a clarinettist from South Korea who now lives in the UK. Nayoung shares her experiences of school and church life growing up, why she chose to come to the UK and how climbing mountains made her appreciate life and God in new ways. To contact Torch […]…
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Tony Brown has been acting Chair of Trustees for Torch for some time now. And in this episode, we get to know the man behind the role. He talks about how he got involved with Torch and shares some highlights of his recent cruise along the west coast of Africa. To contact Torch Trust with […]Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast – 27th April 2025 – Archdeacon Pete Spiers
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20:21This week we hear from the Archdeacon of Sefton and Knowsley, Rev Pete Spiers, who chats about his disability, identity, and reflects on his love of God, finding faith and the Easter story too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or visit torchtrust.org.…
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In this episode of Reflections, we hear the fascinating story of Emily Owen, a Christian author who has had to learn to navigate the world with deafness after NF2A caused her hearing loss. She shares how becoming deaf has impacted how she worships God, and how her journey gave voice to her writing and the […]…
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Reflections Podcast 30th March 2025 – Mothering Sunday
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19:27This week we hear a special sermon from Rev Canon (Emeritus) Steph van der Toorn that explores the peaks and troughs of motherhood, and considers the struggles that so many can battle with too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or visit torchtrust.org.…
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In this episode, we meet weight lifter Ines Higgins as well as park runner and volunteer Alison Evans who are both blind. They both share how they’ve found great communities through their fitness journeys and give some tips on how to get moving. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 [email protected] or […]…
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In this episode of Reflections, we take a closer look at healing, which is a controversial topic in the disabled community. We hear from blind priest Melissa Carter who gives us her take on the subject, and delve deeper into the story of the bleeding woman. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, […]…
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In this episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch’s Becky Davies about what to expect for this year’s online Lent group. We also hear an extract from At home in Lent by Gordon Giles, the book the group will be discussing. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or […]…
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In this episode, we hear from Vicki Bryson, Torch’s new Church Partnerships coordinator, who talks about what she thinks may be some barriers to including blind and partially sighted people in Church. We also hear from Marie McCarroll who attended Torchs Northern Ireland convention. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 4…
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This week we hear the second part of Hardeep Rai’s story. And how he rebuilt his professional life after leaving finance and setting upkaleidoscope.group to help disabled people find meaningful work or start a business. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or visit torchtrust.org.…
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In 2006 Hardeep Rai was living a good life. He was at the pinnacle of his career in finance and he was about to become a dad. What he didn’t know, was that the birth of his son Eshan, who was severely disabled, would turn his life in an unexpected direction, including becoming a Christian […]Torch Trust által
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In this episode, we hear the second part of Linn’s interview with blind sound engineer and musician Peter Bosher, who reflects on how faith inspires his music and talks about the Elizabeth Eagle-bott Memorial Fund, an exciting opportunity for blind and partially sighted musicians. We also get another teaser from Blind faith, Torch’s newest podcast …
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Reflections 26.01.2025 Sound Without Sight Part
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25:15In this episode, Linn Davies interviews blind musician and sound engineer Peter Bosher, who shares how he got into working with sound. He also talks about sound without Sight, an initiative for blind musicians and sound makers. Visit soundwithoutsight.org to find out more. There’s also a teaser from Torch’s newest podcast Blind faith, which feature…
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For many, January can feel like a long, cold month. So in this episode, we speak to laughter workshop leader Ian Macdonald about how we can incorporate more laughter in our lives. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email [email protected] or visit torchtrust.org.…
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Bookings for the Torch Together Holiday programme 2025 opens on 13 January. In this episode, Torch Together Coordinator Becky Davies talks about this years offerings and we chat to Colin and Lesley Palgrave about what you can expect as a guest on a Torch holiday. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call […]…
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Braille was invented 200 years ago. And this episode looks at how Braille continues to be significant today both in the UK and abroad. New producer Linn Davies first talks to Jake Kyle from Compass Braille about the new NIV Braille Bible translation and then to Matthew Horspool about how Braille enables him to be […]…
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Reflections Podcast 29th December 2024: Disability and Friendship
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20:36Marilyn Baker sits down with Torch Trusts’ Sheila Armstrong to chat about friendship and disability, and how the two go hand in hand.Torch Trust által
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Torch Trust Reflections Christmas Special 2024
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35:52Join Marilyn and the Torch Trust team as they bring you readings, messages and a Christmas special sermon. We’re also joined by comedian Paul Kerensa for the tale behind one of the greatest Christmas songs too!Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 22nd December 2024: Jade and John Reynolds – Able To Laugh – Extended Interview!
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40:18Podcasters, authors and social media starlets Jade and John Reynolds join Chris Byland to chat faith, disability and their latest book ‘Able To Laugh‘ in this is the extended edition of Reflections.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 15th December 2024: Comedian, Writer and Podcaster Paul Kerensa – Part 2
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24:17The second part of our chat with Paul hears him chatting about eye sight, WW1, his book Hark! The Biography of Christmas and the history podcast, The British Broadcasting Century, and much more!Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 08th December 2024: Comedian, Writer and Podcaster Paul Kerensa – Part 1
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19:22Paul Kerensa travels around the UK constantly on tour with his various shows, currently it’s carols and comedians visiting churches which is a whole heap of fun and gets you in the mood for Christmas, but away from that he’s written for top TV shows like Miranda, Not Going Out, Top Gear, TFI Friday, The […]…
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Reflections Podcast 1st December 2024: God, Disability and Justice – Part 2
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26:43We hear once more from Fiona MacMillan, who shares with us her role within the Church of England’s General Synod, and what it’s doing to help churches become more disability aware.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 24th November 2024: God, Disability and Justice – Part 1
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27:36This week on Reflections we hear from Fiona MacMillan, a member of the Church of England’s general synod, trustee of Inclusive Church, and chair of the Disability Advisory Group at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 17th November 2024: Count Everyone In
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23:48We hear from a charity that is on a mission to connect churches with people who have a learning disability by breaking down the barriers of accessibility and helping people to understand the bible and Jesus.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 10th November 2024: Kate Nicholas – Part 2
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23:31We hear once more from preacher and author Kate Nicholas, who continue to share her journey with God, writing and cancer.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 03rd November 2024: Kate Nicholas – Part 1
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22:47Preacher Kate Nicholas takes us on her unusual route to finding God, and shares the journey that she’s been on with cancer.Torch Trust által
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Reflections Podcast 27th October 2024: Mental Illness and Faith – Part 2
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21:59Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, talks about how she’s been helping churches, her books and specialist degree.Torch Trust által
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