Our Service
Orkney Talking Newspaper started in 1983 as a Manpower Services initiative with a meeting of just 3 people. The first tape was created on a borrowed tape recorder in a room in the Council Offices and tapes were sent out to 15 listeners.
Things have progressed over the years and since 2007 recordings became digital and were supplied to clients on CDs. More recently, listeners receive their recording on a USB stick.
Additionally, recordings can be accessed online through our Orkney Communities Website page.
OTN is run by approximately 40 volunteers with a part-time co-ordinator, Frances Chalmers, who keeps things running smoothly.
At the moment there are 64 clients but between 50 and 70 USBs are sent out each week as Residential Homes receive several copies.
The service is not confined to the visually impaired. People with physical problems, making it difficult to hold a newspaper for example, can also receive the Talking Newspaper.
The regular weekly USB covers The Orcadian and Orkney Today was also included until its demise.
A magazine edition is sent out twice yearly. Thiis can include any interesting articles from The Orcadian which were too long to be included on the weekly USB.
We get very positive feedback from our clients who look forward to, and enjoy their weekly "newspaper."
The weekly compilation is done over 2 days.
A team of 3 people do Preparation on Thursday morning. One of the team puts together the Introduction while the other 2 members are putting together the articles for the Readers. The aim is to have around 80 minutes worth of listening time.
The "paper" is recorded later on Thursday by 3 Readers and a Recorder, who copies 2 master USBs and uploads the audio files to the internet where they can be accessed via our web page.
Another team comes in on Friday. The USBs are copied and then put into special wallets ready for dispatch to the listeners.
Funding
We are fortunate to receive a grant from OIC and we are grateful to others who fundraise on our behalf or make donations. Our own fundraising events involve a Coffee Morning, Raffle and a slot in the "Blue Door" charity shop.
Whilst these funds are used mainly for the running of the operation we also try to do other things to help. We supplied the library with a "Magnifier" which can be used by anyone to look at books, newspapers and magazines or anything else they possess.
We've been based in several different places over the years but are now permanently established in the library which is blissfully quiet. Before this we were at Scotts House in Hatston, between Heddle Construction and a VERY busy junction so it was noisy for recording.
Milestones
We've marked our 25th and 30th anniversaries with special editions of the "paper."
In 2002 we marked our 1000th edition and were given a civic reception by OIC in the council suite.
In 2004 we were very proud to receive The Queen's Jubilee Award for "Unsung heroes" to mark 21 years of service to the visually or physically impaired.
On 3rd February 2022 we were presented with a framed front cover from the Orcadian to celebrate the 2000th edition of the Orkney Talking Newspaper.
New Clients
Our "service" is completely free to our listeners and we're always pleased to accept new clients.
Anyone wishing to join up can contact our co-ordinator:
Frances Chalmers
Tel: 07845673322
