A talking newspaper previously operated in this area as Stevenage Talking News, but following an appeal in the Comet in 2018 a handful of local volunteers helped to re-establish it as the Stevenage and North Herts Talking News.  We became a registered charity in July 2019, under the format of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We are also members of the Talking News Federation.

 

The idea of a Talking Newspaper is to help those who cannot easily read their local paper by turning it into an audio file so that users can listen to the paper instead of trying to read it.  Our stated aim is to provide blind and visually impaired people in the local area with a regular, weekly, dependable news and information service, free of charge to the user.   Our service is open to anyone who is blind or visually impaired; they do not have to be registered blind.  It is also open to anyone who is unable to read a newspaper for any other reason.  We have around 50 listeners at present, many of whom are referred to us by sight loss professionals or hear about us at local support groups or by word of mouth.

 

Here is what some of our current listeners say:

 

“I really appreciate receiving the Talking News and look forward to the little blue wallet dropping through my door every week.  I have lived in Stevenage since 1953, so knowing what’s going on locally is very important to me.  I enjoy the magazines too, it’s a way of staying in touch with what’s happening in the world.”  (Kathy)

 

“I should like to say how this service has helped me.  At about the first lockdown time I had a lot of trouble with my right eye, which in turn stopped my previously very active life.  I then tried the Talking News, it is a great help not only with the local ‘Comet’ news but also the magazines and other items of interest.  I love it and don’t feel so isolated now.”  (Jill)

 

 

 

We are grateful to the granting bodies, organisations and individual donors who, by their generous financial support, enable us to offer our service free of charge to our listeners.