Volunteers wanted to support 'Talking Newspaper' for visually impaired people

A charity which reads the Maidenhead Advertiser to the visually impaired is looking for a new volunteer to run its website, among other duties.

The Maidenhead and District Talking Newspaper Association makes edited audio versions of articles in the Maidenhead Advertiser for people with visual or motor impairment.

The free service was founded in 1984 with the support of the Lions Club. It sends recordings of articles to people in the SL6 postal area, regardless of their circumstances.

In some cases, it also sends them to people who need them who have moved away but wish to remain connected to the area.

These recordings are produced on USB drives with players provided if required. 

This service is ‘much appreciated’ by its users, as it enables people who cannot read the Advertiser to keep in touch with Maidenhead news.

The Talking Newspaper ensures that people who have known Maidenhead for their whole lives are not ‘suddenly cut off’ from their connection to the town.

It is especially helpful for those people who do not have anyone who could read for them, including some very elderly people who are living by themselves.

Listeners receive and return the recordings through the Royal Mail free postal service for the visually impaired.

This is essential, as without this, the volunteer-run service would not be able to cover the costs of postage.

Its other running costs are being met by charitable donations and support from the Louis Baylis Trust.

Meanwhile, volunteers continue to be needed for various aspects of the Talking Newspaper. Finding volunteers ‘across all charities’ is becoming ‘more and more difficult,’ they say.

Currently, the organisation is requesting a volunteer who can take over the administration of the website and care of the recording and duplicating equipment. 

As times change, more and more people using the service are able to access the internet and listen on the Talking Newspaper website.

As such, it will need a computer literate person to help with the website. They will need to know the technicalities of managing a website the care of the recording and duplicating equipment.

The outgoing volunteer who is handing over his role will be able to teach his incoming replacement 'the nuts and bolts' of what is involved.

If you are interested in learning more about this position, phone 01628 631259.

See the Talking Newspaper website maidenheadtn.org.uk