e-Newsletter March 2026
Our monthly e-Newsletter featuring the latest updates from Retina UK.
Download our plain text copy of the e-newsletter
The Retina UK Online Auction is now live, replacing our annual raffle with a fully online prize‑draw experience. You can bid on prizes like a Dyson V15, a Slater Menswear voucher, an Ibrox Stadium tour, and more.
Bidding is open until June, and winners will be contacted by email to arrange delivery. Every bid helps support our work for people affected by inherited sight loss. Explore the prizes and get bidding
We are looking to develop a new research strategy from 2027 onwards and want to make sure that our future research activity makes as much impact as possible. We are working with an expert who is helping us to undertake a review of the current research landscape and gather the views of community members, leading researchers and the biotech industry.
As part of this activity, we would be very grateful if you would consider completing this anonymous online survey to help us understand what our community wants from research: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RetinaUK-community
The survey should take no more than 20 minutes and has been accessibility tested by Retina UK staff who are living with sight loss.
However, if you encounter any problems or would rather complete the survey over the phone, please call the office on 01280 821334.
We are pleased to share that 2026 marks 50 years since Retina UK was first registered with the Charity Commission. To recognise this milestone, we would love you to be part of a series of volunteer‑led regional events taking place across the UK and would be delighted if you could consider organising one in your community.
Your event can take any form such as a summer social, afternoon tea, evening gathering, or barbecue whatever works best for you and those around you. We simply ask that you let us know your plans so we can provide support and materials. If you choose to include fundraising, we would be very grateful, though this is entirely optional.
If you’d like to discuss further please contact the Retina UK team at [email protected]
Retina UK needs you! Join our exclusive Retina UK Membership in 2026, for £24 a year (or £2 a month), and shape the charity and have your views heard. Sign up via our website or please call 01280 815900 to find out more. The more members we have, the better we will be able to understand the feelings, challenges and needs of people affected by inherited sight loss. We value your support and we look forward to welcoming you to our membership during our special 50th anniversary year.
Registration is open for the Retina UK Annual Conference! Join us at the Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference centre, Birmingham, on the 19 September. In‑person places are limited and offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Register using the link below to secure your spot!
We’re busy planning our next webinar and will be sharing confirmed details very soon. We’ve got some great conversations in the pipeline, and we’re looking forward to announcing the next session.
To stay up to date, please keep an eye on the Events section of our website, where you’ll find the latest information and registration links for all upcoming webinars: https://retinauk.org.uk/events/
Retina UK is proud to officially sponsor the Global RDH12 Family Conference in London on 20 June. This special event will bring together the community affected by Inherited Retinal Dystrophy due to gene RDH12 in person for the first time since the pandemic, with families, researchers and clinicians gathering from around the world.
Families will have the opportunity to connect, share experiences and hear the latest updates on RDH12 research and emerging therapies from leading experts. The day will combine scientific updates, community discussions, and activities for children and young people.
If your family is affected by RDH12, we would love to see you there.
Registrations are now open at the link below. For any questions, please email [email protected].
Important: please complete one registration per person, including children. This is essential for attendance planning and dietary requirements.
Retina UK will be hosting a spectacular gala dinner as the grand finale to our 50th anniversary year and you’re invited. Join us on Saturday, 24 October 2026 at the Hilton on Park Lane in London for a truly unforgettable evening and the culmination of our special year. You don’t want to miss it! Find out more and buy your tickets before they sell out.
Do you want to be the first to hear about exciting research participation opportunities? Sign up to our Lived Experience Panel today using the button below!
Retina UK’s Lived Experience Panel connects members of our inherited sight loss community with opportunities to take part in research activities, sharing their insights with researchers, clinicians and industry partners. Signing up means you’ll be contacted about relevant participation opportunities as they arise. Opportunities may include contributing to research projects, sharing feedback on new ideas and helping to ensure studies reflect what truly matters to people living with inherited retinal conditions. Your experiences can make a real difference, helping to guide research priorities, improve trial designs and shape the development of future treatments. Please note that not all opportunities will involve clinical trials and some opportunities may not be directly relevant to yourself.
Manchester Local Peer Support Group
Saturday 21 March – 3pm to 8pm – In-person
Come and join Rachael and the group for their latest in-person meeting at The Waldorf pub for a social get together and catch up.
‘Talking’ Tech Peer Support Group
Tuesday 24 March – 7pm to 8pm – Online
We invite you to join us for our latest meeting where we are delighted to introduce our new group facilitators Anna Holloway & Ellie Dowdy along with our guest speaker Chris Moreton from tech company, HumanWare.
Young Adults Peer Support Group
Wednesday 25 March – 7pm to 8.30pm – Online
Come and join Martik and the group for our latest Young Adults online social catch up and an update on our first in-person team building activity day and focus group of the year.
Tyne & Wear/Northern Alliance Peer Support Group
Saturday 28 March – 1.00pm to 7.00pm – In-person
Come and join Colin and the group at the Tyneside Irish Centre for their first in-person event of 2026.
Berkshire Local Peer Support Group
Monday 30 March – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Come and join James and the group for their latest online social catch up.
National Peer Support Group
Tuesday 31 March – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Please come and join us for our Spring meeting where we are delighted to welcome our guest speaker Stuart Hann, The Blind Chocolatier who runs his own business and shop in the Lake District!
Belfast Local Peer Support Group
Wednesday 1 April – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Come and join Kim, Brian and the Belfast Bumpers Group for a social catch up and to hear from our guest speaker and group member ‘Rocky’ Masrokhin.
Edinburgh Local Peer Support Group
Saturday 11 April – 11.00am to 1.00pm – In-person
Come and join Valerie and the group for our first meeting of 2026 when we return to the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh to hear from guest speaker Chloe Brotherton, PhD Student working with Dr Roly Megaw.
For more information and to be kept up to date with peer support group activity please visit the Events page on our website – https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/services/local-peer-support-groups/
Stay connected… Join a WhatsApp Group!
If you are unable to make one of our many Peer Support Groups either online or in-person, then why not join one of our WhatsApp group chats? For more information, please contact [email protected] or call our Helpline on 0300 111 400.
Dreaming of an amazing summer holiday? For just £1 a line, you could be in with the chance of winning up to £25,000 every Friday through our Retina UK Lottery! We’ve created 51 winners so far and you could be next! What would you spend your life-changing winnings on? Sign up today and support our vital work in 2026, via the website. If you would like to chat to Maria before signing up, please call 07736968158 or email [email protected].
We’re excited to be attending Sight Village South West in Exeter on Tuesday 14 April, at the Westpoint Conference Centre. You’ll be able to meet us in person and find out more about what we offer. Pre-registration is available and recommended by calling 0121 803 5313 or by emailing [email protected].
If you’re planning to visit, do come and say hello, we’d love to see you there!