Since the very beginning we have been involved with Talking News Islington charity. It has been set up by a group of volunteers who wanted to provide a valuable service to the blind and partially-sighted in London Boroughs of Islington and Camden. There are Talking News in many parts of the UK, produced similarly by volunteers. The News are recorded and posted to anyone registered to receive it on a CD or tape, the users listen to the news and send back to the charity. The service is free and relies on donations and funding.

The benefits for users are very important: Talking News allows people to stay in touch with what’s going on in their local area. There are talking books and national news to listen to, however it’s nearly impossible for someone blind or partially-sighted to be involved in their local activities and participate in their community without being able to get the information in the format they can access it. That’s the gap that TNI was set to fill.

We provided audio recording and editing services for monthly TNI editions, secretarial and book-keeping services for running the charity, developed a simple website to get a web presence and be found by interested parties and other charitable organisations like RNIB. And yes, that’s one of the partners, James on the picture!

On behalf of myself and all the Volunteers at Talking News Islington, I write to thank you for very much for all the advice and support you gave us in setting up ‘Talking News Islington’, for without your Computer Skills and knowledge we could not have got it off the ground so quickly.
Elizabeth Jones, Chair of TNI

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