Trafford Residents Get Ready to Tune In!

Trafford Talking News for the Blind is shaking things up with their brand-new ‘talking newspaper’ service, bringing fortnightly audio local news directly to the homes of those living with sight loss in Trafford. Founded in 1979 by the Rotary Club of Urmston, this charitable organization is powered by a team of passionate volunteers from all walks of life, dedicated to providing a lifeline of information to their community.

Operating from a state-of-the-art studio, volunteers comb through local websites and the Messenger to compile an hour-long bulletin, packed with all the latest updates and stories. These recordings are then delivered straight to listeners’ doorsteps, complete with a special player for easy access.

But that’s not all – thanks to recent advancements in technology, Trafford Talking News is now accessible through Alexa smart speakers! Simply ask Alexa to “enable the talking newspaper skill” and then “open talking newspapers” to dive into the latest news updates.

Dr.Karen Barclay, the group’s dynamic leader, emphasised the importance of this service: ‘Trafford Talking News allows residents with sight loss to maintain a vital link to the community,’ she said. ‘Many of our members obtain great pleasure from hearing local news, whether it be the latest developments in the neighbourhood or the football results.’