Local MP Helps Spread The News About Swindon's Talking Newspaper

Local MP Justin Tomlinson has visited and been interviewed by the Swindon & District Talking Newspaper. The Talking Newspaper gives blind and visually impaired listeners the chance to keep in touch with what's going on in the local community through a two hour weekly recording that is sent out to 190 regular listeners across Swindon.  

The recording contains local news items from the Swindon Advertiser, as well as interviews, information on local sport and history, and information produced specifically for visually impaired people from organisations like the BBC and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. 

Justin visited the dedicated team of volunteers at the Talking Newspaper in their studio at Craven House on Victoria Road, where the recordings are made and then distributed. Each week, the editor prepares a selection of news items from the Swindon Advertiser for approximately 45 minutes of local stories each week. 

Justin Tomlinson MP said: "What struck me most about the visit though was the close knit team of volunteers who enable the talking newspaper to exist in the first place. Whether it’s recording stories, managing the recording equipment or helping to post out the recordings on memory sticks - the charity is run completely by volunteers and their dedication to helping visually impaired people. It was particularly inspiring to meet the gentleman who reads out the weekly sports news and has been doing so since 1982! As a local MP, one of my favourite parts of the job is visiting the small charities who go to great lengths to support vulnerable people in our local community. Most often than not they rely on volunteers and local support networks to keep running and the support that they provide is invaluable to those who rely on them. I am always keen to help champion the unsung heroes in our community and importantly I am here to help small charities where possible. Whether this be helping to fundraise, attending events or providing advice - my team and I are always on hand to offer assistance. The Talking Newspaper was an enjoyable reminder of why this support is so important. The experience also made sure that I will never again take reading a newspaper for granted!"