Reflections from Torch Trust

This 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.

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.

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

In this week’s episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about a new and exciting project where Torch will give cuddly toy lambs with a Jesus story book audioplayer embedded to blind and partially sighted children. We also hear the story book version of The Prodigal Son, read by David Suchet.

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.

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 Torch's Northern Ireland convention.

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 info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

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 and starting an enterprise to help disabled people in work and business.

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.

In 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 features stories of blind and partially sighted people To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

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.

In this episode, we hear all about the 2025 Torch holiday offerings. First we talk to Torch Together Coordinator Becky Davies about the locations and then to Colin and Lesley Palgrave about what it's like to be a guest on the holidays.

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 part of Coventry Cathedral Choir.

Marilyn Baker sits down with Torch Trusts’ Sheila Armstrong to chat about friendship and disability, and how the two go hand in hand.

Join 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!

Podcasters, 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.

The 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!

Paul 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 Royal Variety Performance. Over the next couple of weeks, Paul chats with us about his health, faith and of course Christmas!

We 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.

This 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.