A Talking Newspaper audio version of The Henley Standard Newspaper is available free of charge to anyone registered blind or partially sighted. It is also available to people who can’t read the paper themselves for a different reason, such as being unable to hold the paper or turn pages.
The Henley and District Talking Newspaper is run by volunteers. It allows those who are unable to read the newspaper by themselves to receive an audio recording of The Henley Standard through their letter box each week.
Specially prepared pages of the newspaper are collected from the Standard office every Thursday. That evening a group of four readers and a technical controller produce the hour long recording. News is included from the surrounding villages as well as ‘Letters to the Editor’, ‘The Diary Page’, family announcements and ‘Thought for the Week’. Each reader also chooses news articles which are of general interest to the listener. The recording is then copied onto memory sticks and posted. Listeners receive the memory sticks on the Saturday morning and then post it back. The Post Office operates a freepost service for the blind and partially sighted.
How does it work?
Most listeners are provided with a player on which to listen to the news but the memory stick will also play in any computer with a USB port. Soon listeners will be able to register to receive the news each week by downloading a MP3 file from the website.
The Henley and District Talking Newspaper was founded in 1982 with sponsorship from the Lions Club of Henley on Thames and it’s then president Arthur Hull.
The Talking Newspaper has provided an invaluable service to visually impaired people in the community the last thirty years. Arrangements can be made to send the talking newspaper to people in hospital or indeed in nursing or care homes.
How do you become a Talking Newspaper listener?
Visit http://www.henleytalkingnewspaper.org.uk/contact.htm to arrange for a volunteer to visit and provide an MP3 players free of charge and to demonstrate how to use it.
How do you become a Talking Newspaper reader?
The Henley and District Talking Newspaper are keen to hear from people with a clear voice who would like to become readers. Visit http://www.henleytalkingnewspaper.org.uk/contact.htm to find out more. You will need to attend an audition audition to see how your voice comes across on a recording but it is very informal and an opportunity to ask any questions.
Perhaps Gardiner’s could help you to continue to do the things that you enjoy? If so, or to have a chat, please do get in contact.
Other links and information
- RNIB National Talking Newspapers and Magazines delivers over 230 top publications in an accessible format to suit you. Read more here
- UK residents who are blind or partially sighted can arrange a tactile tour of the Houses of Parliament. Read more here
- Henley Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Coral Shorland 01491 641346
- Henley Library (Audio Book Hire) Telephone: 01491 575278 Ravenscroft Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2DH http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/henley-library
- Wallingford Talking Newspaper – www.opencharities.org/charities/296172
- Reading Association for the Blind www.readingassociationfortheblind.org
- Berkshire County Blind Society www.bcbs.org
- Reading Talking Newspaper www.readingtalkingnewspaper.org.uk
- Oxfordshire association for the Blind www.oxeyes.org.uk Telephone 01865 725595
- Talking News Federation www.tnf.org.uk
- Talking Newspapers UK 01453 866102 For over 200 national Newspapers and Magazines on tape, CD or email. Nominal charge www.tnauk.org.uk
- Action for Blind People www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
- Royal National Institute for the Blind www.rnib.org.uk
- Macular Disease Society www.maculardisease.org
- Calibre Audio Library A national charity providing unabridged audio books by post for adults and children who are unable to read print. www.calibre.org.uk
