Salford Talking News is a charity which distribute local news for the visually impaired across Salford, and they want you.
More than 30 years ago, Salford Talking News was set up as a registered charity to send out readings of local news to those in the area who struggle with sight impairments. Since then, over 200 people have signed up to the scheme which is run entirely by volunteers.
Salford News spoke to Andrew Connell, a member of the Salford Talking News (STN) group about why he thinks it’s important for areas like Salford to have services like STN.
Salford Talking News hope to raise awareness for visually impaired people across Salford and are encouraging members of the public to both use the service, and also get in touch if they want to be a part of the team.
Every week, STN send out a free audio recording to over 200 blind, partially-sighted or otherwise reading disabled people across the whole of Salford via a memory stick. Each recording contains items of recent news gleaned from the local newspapers and also produce a monthly magazine of longer articles which are all recorded and created at St George’s Resource Centre in Salford.
Andrew said: “Salford have some of the most deprived areas in the country so it’s important that we support them, especially with the austerity that has been around for the last eight years and the reduced funding in the area. It’s important that people don’t feel isolated from society.”
As an ex-policemen, Andrew now devotes a large amount of his time to community groups, but the story of how he got involved with STN was very interesting.
“When I was serving as a policeman 12 years ago, Salford Talking News was broken into and all their equipment was stolen. At the time, every year Salford CID held a community function to raise money for charities that were suggested, so I put forward Salford Talking News and they were able to buy some new equipment.
“Years later, I thought to myself that I wouldn’t mind getting involved with doing some voiceovers or reading and remembered Salford Talkings News, they were looking for readers so I did that and then later on I went over to the technical side on the sound desk and putting the readings onto memory sticks.”
#charitytuesday #support #SalfordTalkingNewspaper bringing #free #localnews to #blind #localpeople in #salford for more than 30 years, to find out more or #donate #call 0161 736 8670 or visit https://t.co/wk4DbZUwih ?️? pic.twitter.com/d4C36HrzVu
— Antz Junction (@Antz_Junction) August 28, 2018
If you want to volunteer with the STN group wether that be as a reader or even give a hand on the technical side of things (no high-tech expertise needed) then email admin@salford-talking-news.org.uk or give them a call at 0161 736 8670.
Alternatively, you can visit their Facebook page.
Recent Comments