Most of us rely on our local newspaper to keep in touch with what is happening in and around the area in which we live, providing information that does not reach us by means of television or radio. This is the really local news from which the visually impaired are completely cut off unless they happen to have a relative or friend who can spare the time to read to them regularly. The "talking newspaper" produced by CaTN fills this gap, and plays an important role in helping to restore their independence as well as creating the opportunity for them to continue to take an active interest in the community.
On a sunny and unseasonably mild Thursday 26 October, the 47th Annual General Meeting of Chichester Area Talking News took place at Oving Village Hall, attended by around 60 people - Listeners, Carers, Trustees, Volunteers, Helpers and Supporters. In the photo the Chairman, Ken Pritchard, opens the proceedings with a review of the past year.
Chichester Area Talking News was delighted to receive a cheque for £1,000 from Chichester Lions Club recently. Here Sue Boucher, from the Lions, is seen handing over the cheque to Ken Pritchard, Chairman of Talking News outside the recording studio at St. Richard's Hospital.
The latest edition of 'Team Talk', the Summer 2023 Newsletter for all CATN Volunteers, is now available on the News and Events page.
Lily Barkes, who plays a leading part as Mole in the current production of ‘Wind in the Willows’ at the Festival Theatre, shares her thoughts on performing with the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre in the last programme of 2022 from Chichester Area Talking News. This is a Christmas Special, full of festive and seasonal material and so not to be missed! We are always looking for more Listeners to enjoy our free local news recordings, so if someone you know would appreciate this service, please do get in touch by clicking on the Contact button above.
Chichester Area Talking News was recently given a generous donation of £250 by The Mulberries (based in Pagham) as part of a 1960s/70s musical evening. In the photo are Chris Mustchin (CATN Trustee) with his Guide Dog Kenny, Ken Pritchard (CATN Chairman) and Maria Wildman, who is Secretary of The Mulberries, with the band trio behind them on the stage. Everyone enjoyed the wide range of songs from the 60/70s era and joined in the dancing. This was a fun evening for all, and CATN is very grateful for the donation which will be put to good use. We are always looking for more Listeners to enjoy our free local news recordings. If someone you know would appreciate this service, do get in touch by clicking on www.catn.org.uk.
Talking News held its AGM in 2022 in Oving Village Hall - traditionally a yearly get-together for our Listeners, Volunteers and Supporters, Everyone enjoyed this welcome opportunity to chat and socialise over a light lunch, served by Volunteers, followed by some musical entertainment. The picture shows our President, Councillor Anne Scicluna with the Deputy Mayor of Chichester, Councillor Richard Plowman
In the Spring 2022 INSIGHT magazine, Geoffrey Archer conducts a fascinating interview onboard Kingfisher, one of the Chichester Canal Trust's watercraft, where you can hear all about the canal in this, the Trust's 200th anniversary year. We hope our listeners enjoy a taste of the canal! If you would like to learn more about this historic waterway, please go to: https://chichestercanal.org.uk...
On,15 May 2022 about 50 Talking News Volunteers, with Listeners, supporters and partners gathered together at the Park Hotel, Chichester for a chat and an informal lunch. It was a lively affair, with plenty to talk about and the time passed quickly. Chairman Dick Bunker individually thanked members of the Team for continuing to produce high-quality and interesting news recordings, unfailingly on time to meet the deadline. He also thanked all who played a part in keeping Talking News a thriving charity, supporting people with visual disabilities in West Sussex. Everyone agreed it had been a good opportunity to catch up and exchange news and ideas for the future.
Every fortnight, we record an hour of local news, called Talking News and every quarter we record a 75 minute magazine programme called INSIGHT. These recordings are provided free of charge for blind and partially sighted people in the Chichester, Bognor Regis, Midhurst and Petworth areas.
Each episode can be listened to through various channels. A memory stick is available to be posted to listeners which can be played on a Boombox, which we will also supply free of charge. Alternatively, you can listen via this website, Alexa or the BWBF App.
Every fortnight, we produce an hour of local news on a memory stick for the blind, partially sighted and other disabled people in the Chichester, Bognor Regis, Midhurst and Petworth areas – as covered by the three editions of the local 'Observer' newspaper – from the southern coastal towns and villages as far north as the Surrey border, east to Yapton and Walberton, and west to Emsworth. In addition to the memory stick, we are also on the web (go to 'Listen to Talking News'), Alexa and the BWBF App.
Every quarter, we produce INSIGHT, a 75-minute magazine programme which is also distributed free to listeners. With its own dedicated producer, presenter and technical operator, it seeks out interesting items of local and general interest. Over the years it has covered subjects ranging from the Mary Rose project at Portsmouth to the Weald and Download museum in Singleton.
We know from our postbag that many of our listeners look forward to each edition and often keep it to listen again to a particular favourite item.
If you would like to find out more about being a volunteer please contact us with your details and we will get back to you. We also have specific situations vacant from time to time.
