Reflections from Torch Trust

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.

We 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.

We hear once more from preacher and author Kate Nicholas, who continue to share her journey with God, writing and cancer.

Preacher and author Kate Nicholas takes us on her unusual route to finding God, and shares the journey that she’s been on with cancer.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, talks about how she’s been helping churches, her books and specialist degree.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, shares her incredibly candid, powerful and honest journey of living with mental illness and God.