A TALKING newspaper charity which provides local news for the blind is launching a fund-raising drive to raise £25,000 to ensure its survival.

Volunteers give up their free time every week to record tapes of the Waltham Forest Guardian at the Waltham Forest Talking Newspaper Association studio in Fraser Road, Leyton, which are delivered to the blind and partially sighted.

The charity, which was founded 30 years ago by former school friends John Davies and Alan Pow, raised funds to build a studio but the building has fallen into disrepair and the charity is considering going digital because their equipment is expensive to repair and tapes will soon become obsolete.

Paul Braham, treasurer for the charity, said: “We need money for refurbishment to upgrade the operation and ensure its future for the next few years.

"Like other charities, we are struggling in these times but we have to find a way to keep going.”

Mr Braham said the charity is currently carrying out a survey with listeners to ensure members have the equipment required if the charity switched to compact discs or another digital format.

Currently, tapes are recorded live by several readers and a sound technician in a small studio, where listeners birthdays and other notices of interest are also read out and sometimes special guests are interviewed.

The hour-long recording is then copied onto recycled cassettes and are despatched in yellow packets and delivered for free by Royal Mail to the listeners - at no cost to them.

One of those listeners who relies on receiving the tapes is 76-year-old Joele Steele who had cataracts in her eyes and haemorrhaging which made it difficult for her to see.

She said: “I always enjoyed reading the Waltham Forest Guardian so it is so nice to hear what is going on - I look forward to receiving it each week.

“I felt very isolated when I started to lose my sight because there was so much I couldn't do but when I get the paper it helps me to relax and feel informed of what is happening in the area.”

To make a donation or volunteer for the charity, or if you know of anyone who would like to receive the recordings, contact Paul Braham on 07738 915904.

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