LISTENERS of a service that brings the news to those who are blind or partially sighted will get a treat.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Richard Kosior has recorded a special message for the South West Dorset Talking Newspaper as the service marks its 30th anniversary year.

But in between the celebrations, the registered charity is appealing for more people to come forward to help keep it running in the future.

Eleanor Smith, of SWDTN, said the group desperately needs technicians who can learn to use the software to record and produce the magazine. The charity provides a weekly newspaper of local news and a magazine for listeners, which are put onto a memory stick and delivered to users.

Eleanor said: “The magazine and newspaper are all produced by volunteers, and there are more than 80 of them, all playing a part in making sure the newspaper is recorded and distributed. We have teams of editors, readers and then producers. We have a team that comes in on Wednesday mornings and sorts out the copying and distribution of the paper.”

She added: “However we do have a real problem, in this, our 30th anniversary year. We are very short of technicians and would love to find some volunteers that would help us. We are very happy to give full training to anyone who could do this.”

Cllr Kosior was welcomed into the studio where the charity is based, at Moose Lodge on Chickerell Road.

Eleanor said: “He was very interested in the service and said that he realised how important it was to listeners who are not able to read the newspaper in the usual way. He said it provided a ‘window to the world’ for them and recorded a message for our listeners.”

“He is very aware of the issues that visually impaired people have to deal with, and was very supportive of our charity.”

The SWDTN serves Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Sherborne and Blandford – but there are listeners all over Dorset, and even some in neighbouring counties. The group was formed in October 1987 and the first addition published on January 20, 1988.

For more information, visit www.sdwtn.co.uk
To volunteer as a technician call chairman Ann Sawtell on 01305 782602 or email swdtn@btinternet.com