Chatterbox, the talking newspaper for people who are blind or vision impaired, was established more than 45 years ago to bring recorded news readings to subscribers. Three committee members, including listener representative Anne Telfer, explain why they got involved
Anne Telfer is blind/vision impaired and a listener representative:
Unlike most Chatterbox listeners, I have been blind all my life and so have never been able to read newspapers. I was aware of Chatterbox but only contacted them when I heard they had launched an audio version of the Norfolk Magazine. I enjoyed the Norfolk Magazine so when I found out that Chatterbox had started doing an audio version of Let’s Talk, I signed up to receive all Chatterbox recordings. I really enjoy listening to the weekly news as well as all the magazines Chatterbox produces.
About eight years ago I joined the Listeners’ Panel which was run by Mike Blythe. A few years after that, I took over leading the panel from Mike and later also took his place as the listener representative on the committee. I really enjoy being involved with Chatterbox, through it I have met some really nice people, some of whom have worked really hard for the charity for many, many years. By comparison, my contribution is small, but I know it is appreciated. I have been surprised at just how much work there is behind the scenes at a small charity. I’m very pleased to help where I can, for example, by choosing the memory stick player we send out to listeners who require one as well as passing on feedback from listeners and giving my opinion on some of the many decisions the charity has to make. I think Chatterbox provides its listeners with a good range of quality audio material which now includes the very good in-house magazine Just Talk which has replaced Let’s Talk – which was discontinued a year ago. Just Talk has been received very well by listeners.
Tim Edwards is one of the editors/producers and is a team leader on recording days:
I moved to Norwich from South Wales in 2002 and attended the King Street Festival which showcased local artists, bands, businesses and charities from the King Street area of Norwich. I spotted a tent with much activity going on and, being a curious sort, I popped my head in. Well, I’ve never really left. It was full of older people playing a tape recorder (remember those?) and when I enquired about it, they told me all about this totally amazing service they provided.
Each Thursday a team of around 25 people would cut up stories from the Norwich Evening Newspaper and order them into a programme that was recorded that evening. This cassette recording was then duplicated on some fast-copying machinery to create around 900 copies which were boxed up and placed inside plastic wallets that would be collected by Royal Mail and delivered to vision impaired and blind people around Norwich for free. The wallets were reusable, and the cassette was sent back the following week and dealt with at Chatterbox Headquarters on King Street.
As someone who had made ‘radio’ programmes as a teenager on tape cassettes, as well as having a BA in Photo Media and film production, this was music to my ears. I signed up straight away and began as one of the people opening the returned wallets and removing last week’s cassettes. As a stranger to Norfolk, I soon met some entertaining and engaging people as well as learning all about the Norwich news scene. I would recommend volunteering to anyone wishing to ‘get out more’ or wanting to expand your social circle. At Chatterbox I quickly became a sound recordist and after some years doing most roles, I was thrilled to become the Chairperson. This was at a time when we set up our website – cbtn.org.uk – and changed from analogue cassette recording to all digital production and distribution.
I’m pleased to say that I am still there after some 22 years and thoroughly enjoying working with a wonderful team of volunteers who have one aim – to help, in a small way, to inform vision impaired people about what is happening in their local area; and to entertain our listeners, I create a monthly audio magazine with readers such as Neil Haverson of Let’s Talk magazine fame, and David Clayton from BBC Radio Norfolk as well as our dedicated team.
We all have skills that are different and unique from one another. Try volunteering with any group, I’m sure they would welcome you and you can find an outlet for your own talents!
Roger Ryan, Chair of Trustees:
I’m a former journalist who used to work for the Eastern Daily Press, BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Radio 4. My mum was partially sighted, and this gave me an understanding of the challenges facing people with sight difficulties. I’m delighted and honoured to be chair of Chatterbox trustees. It’s a fabulous organisation run by a dedicated army of volunteers which helps provide a key service in Norwich and Norfolk to blind and visually impaired people.
My role is to ensure that Chatterbox maintains the profile it has but also moves with the times. We would like to attract a younger listening base and expand our presence online. We are working on plans which will move us further along this road. My role also involves ensuring that we comply with all Charity Commission requirements and, importantly, continue to provide the best possible service to the listeners we can.
Chatterbox is the Norwich Talking Newspaper. The charity’s 100 volunteers have been producing a recording of highlights from the Norwich Evening News every week for more than 45 years. Chatterbox recordings are sent to more than 400 blind and visually impaired listeners, mainly in the Norwich area, and to another 500 listeners in other parts of Norfolk, thanks to other talking newspapers. Blind and visually impaired people on the mailing list mostly listen to Chatterbox productions on USB memory sticks. Chatterbox can also be listened via cbtn.org.uk or on Amazon Echo Smart Speakers: Just ask Alexa to “Open My Talking Newspaper”. To find out more about the charity, follow @Chatterbox_news on X, email contact@cbtn.org.uk or phone 01603 327789.
All featured images – supplied
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