Young blood needed to keep talking newspaper alive

The chairman of a talking newspaper for the visually impaired has said more volunteers are needed to secure the future of the service, which a listener has described as irreplaceable.

The Stafford & Stone audio publication sends memory sticks of local news to more than 100 subscribers, free of charge.

Chairman Mike Hall is proud of the organisation's 43 year history but fears for its future, having lost 600 listeners over the last 20 years.

"We need young blood, none of us are getting younger," he said, "more volunteers are crucial, particularly on the management side."

Mr Hall remembered there being more than 500 talking newspapers across the country, but the Talking News Federation said there was now half that number still in existence.

Alison Cardy has a visual impairment and described listening to the talking newspaper as an essential part of her morning routine

Stafford & Stone Talking Newspaper is completely self-funded, thanks mainly to donations left in the wills of regular listeners.

But its aging listenership is one of the challenges recognised by the organisation's chairman.

"When we moved over to digital working, we lost quite a few people then," he said, "and of course we've got competition from people like BBC Local Radio."

Alison Cardy is a loyal listener, having lost her sight in later life.

She said she enjoyed the poetry, jokes and chatter as well as the news articles.

"You recognise the voices and feel like you know the characters," she smiled.

She has written thank you messages periodically to the dedicated team of volunteers.

She said it was "very sad" to hear the numbers have dropped so drastically over the last two decades.

Mrs Cardy has promoted the service through Cannock and District Ladies Probus and said she would volunteer for the talking newspaper if she was physically able.

"I'd be lost without it," she admitted and encouraged volunteers to get involved.

The team record at Trinity House in Stafford and would appreciate more assistance from willing helpers