Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

In Touch

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Disability

News, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted

BBC Radio 4 LW

In Touch: A gap in support?

A gap in support?

BBC Radio 4 - In Touch, A gap in support?

The demise of Fuss Free Phones, and a group to help younger visually impaired people.

Is there enough information and support for visually impaired people in their 20s and 30s?

In 2012 Simon Rockman set up a simple-to-use mobile phone service aimed at the older visually impaired person. Fuss Free phones had one button, which put your call through to a call centre and they would either phone someone or text them for you. Now Fuss Free Phones has closed. Peter White asks Simon Rockman what went wrong and will any customers be left out of pocket?

Reporter Tom Walker meets Juliette Parfitt who began losing her sight in her early twenties. Since then she says she has struggled to find age-appropriate information and services and feels it is an age-group whose problems are sometimes overlooked. One solution for Juliette might be a Facebook group called VI Talk. It has over two-and-a-half thousand members who share stories and tips and tricks on how to cope with life as a visually impaired person. Jo Fishwick from VI Talk tells us about it – and the seven other spin-off groups ranging from information on blind sports, to a book club.

Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Lee Kumutat

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

In Touch

A gap in support?

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4