South Coast Talking News to get support from students
University students could soon be taking an active role in helping charity Sussex Coast Talking News (SCTN) produce news broadcasts for visually impaired and blind people.
The development follows a visit by SCTN director Rob Batho to a mini-recruitment fair at the University of Chichester, when he met secondyear BA Humanities students.
“We are always on the lookout for new blood and the students expressed great enthusiasm in the work that we do,” said Rob. “The initial idea is that they do two weeks’ work experience with us to find out more about our organisation, with a view to becoming more fully involved.”
SCTN distributes free fortnightly digitally-recorded bulletins for listeners throughout Worthing, Arun and Adur who are unable to view a conventional newspaper. The news is recorded onto CDS and USB sticks, which are sent in the post free of charge.
A team of editors, technicians and readers has produced more than 1,100 editions since the charity, originally called Voice of Progress, was launched in 1975. The partnership with the university – which has campuses in Chichester and Bognor Regis – follows a successful initiative with Angmering School students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
“I think it is very important to have new and fresh ideas which these students can offer us, particularly with social media.” said Rob, formerly head of education at the Bognor campus.
“Likewise, we can give them experience of working within an organisation, helping them to show what they can contribute and discover what their skills are.”
Students have been invited to apply for work experience at SCTN in the spring, with an early visit to the Littlehampton studio where broadcasts are produced.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer, or who knows of anyone who might benefit from receiving ‘talking news’, should contact Margaret Eagle – email sctalkingnews@gmail.com
SCTN produced its first broadcast 45 years ago and is currently based at Bizspace in Littlehampton while a dedicated new studio and office are constructed as part of major re-development at its regular home at Rustington Hall.