Vital service returns

Fareport Talking News is a volunteer-run organisation that produces a Talking Newspaper on a USB stick each week, for local people who cannot read a newspaper because of sight issues. It is playable on machines supplied through the organisation, containing local news, information and features. Of course mainstream broadcasters provide excellent news coverage but it does not cover all those items that have particular local interest. The service is completely free.

Fareport Talking News has just started recording again after a long hiatus following lockdown in line with government advice to protect our volunteers through social distancing. We have resumed now but still following all current safety advice around social distancing.

Stopping recording was something we were very reluctant to do. Lockdown has meant many groups of people have experienced isolation and this has had a detrimental effect upon their mental health. The extent of this is only now becoming clear. This will be true for many blind and partially sighted people, and not having the weekly talking news keeping them abreast of what is happening locally can contribute to those feelings of isolation.

As we look to take our first steps to resuming our service, two things occur to us. One is the recognition that we are still not clear of Covid-19 and that more lockdowns, partial or total, may yet occur, and this link to the wider world will again become important to our existing listeners. Equally, we want to reach out to those who don’t know about our service so we can help to reduce the feelings of isolation for more blind and partially sighted people and help in whatever way we can with supporting their mental health. In order to reach people however, we have to rely on getting our message out so that we raise awareness. We need to ask people if they know of anyone who might benefit from the service. If you think that you know someone who might benefit by receiving Fareport Talking News, please contact the studio on 01329 664364. Just leave a message, and we shall get back to you, arrange a demonstration and set up a weekly mailing. We can supply a player at a subsidised cost for anyone without computer access.

Fareport Talking News