» Free news service helps visually impaired
CHARITY The Cotswold Listener wants to spread the word about its free, weekly talking newspaper and magazine service which they provide to the visually impaired each week.
Established 41 years ago, the charity has been helping people with sight problems keep in touch with what is happening in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the North Cotswolds, 51 weeks a year.
Recipients receive a weekly memory stick together with a specially designed, easy to use player if they don’t have other suitable equipment to play the recordings on.
Each week’s edition lasts around 80 minutes and comprises two sections. There are around 45 minutes of local news and a 35-minute “magazine” of general interest articles to amuse and entertain.
The news is recorded by kind permission of the Gloucestershire Echo and the Cotswold Journal.
One of the charity’s listeners is Vivienne Timbrell who has been involved since 1995 as both a listener and a trus
tee. “When you are unable to read the written word due to eyesight problems, you feel quite isolated from knowing what is happening in the local area,” she said.
“While local radio does have news broadcasts and gives information on local events, you need to dip in and out to access the information.
“However, the service provided by The Cotswold Listener is available in one place, as it would be in a weekly newspaper and magazine.
“The content of both the news and magazine are age appropriate with many of our listeners being 50 years of age plus.”
News selectors organise the weekly news and magazine articles are selected by the Readers themselves.
The recording is received each Friday or Saturday.
“We all find both the news and magazines stimulating and the articles give us something to talk about to our families, carers and friends,” Miss Timbrell added.
“The ‘What’s On’ section helps us plan outings and activities that we may not have known about.”
The organisation is keen for visually impaired and blind people who would like to access the service to get in touch.
Newly appointed chairman June Little said: “Although we currently have 140 members, we would like more people to be aware of the service The Cotswold Listener offers and the benefit it provides to our listeners.
“We cover an area extending from Cheltenham to Tewkesbury across to Stow, Bourton and Moreton-in-marsh and our articles are relevant to people living in those areas.”
To find out more visit www.cotswoldlistener.co.uk or June@cotswoldlistener.co.uk.