Inaugural meeting for new Leeds Talking Newspaper
After several years where the blind and visually impaired people of Leeds and surrounding area, have been deprived of local news in a recorded format for individuals, a new talking newspaper has been started.
The national Talking News Federation had noticed the absence of a TN in Leeds, despite that city being one of the most revered and highly populated in the North of England. They asked their Development Team, headed by Alan Dunderdale and assisted by Marjorie Dunderdale, to try to set up a new talking newspaper and Alan set about writing to over 50 organisations, societies and companies in and around Leeds, inviting them to take part in this new venture and attend a meeting in November. The meeting took place but sadly, despite promised interest, only a handful of volunteers attended. A second meeting was arranged for January and a different handful of volunteers attended. The third meeting, which took place on March 14th at the John Lewis Community Hub, attracted a few more volunteers and from those attending, a steering committee was formed. Staff at John Lewis, motivated by and including Bryony Hewetson, have played a big part with their enthusiasm as has a volunteer from Yorkshire Water, Ash Roberts. Paul Landey is a committee member of the former Leeds TN and is already providing an essential service in spreading the word about the new venture.
Two former readers for the previous Leeds TN have volunteered their services and another member of John Lewis Staff has expressed an interest in reading.
Alan Dunderdale has already spoken to a website developer in Otley – Elementary Digital – and this website has been donated by that company to help raise awareness of the new TN. Many thanks for the donation.
In the coming weeks we need to establish a listenership and we would ask anyone who knows a blind or visually impaired person to inform them about the new TN and ask them to make contact to be put on the register of recipients. The telephone number to ring is: 07564 368453 – this will be an answer phone – please leave a message with your name and contact telephone number and we will ring you back.
Thursday 19th April at 4.00 pm is the date of the next meeting to progress the TN which will again be at the John Lewis Community Hub. (Many thanks to John Lewis in Leeds for providing this meeting room)
We have attached a copy of the magazine section for you to enjoy.
