Hull and District Talking Magazine

The Hull and District Talking Magazine is a registered charity that was formed in 1978 with the object of providing recordings of local and general interest for those members of the community who, because of some disability, find reading to be a strain or impossible. The Talking Magazine produces a fortnightly talking newspaper/magazine of news and feature articles, taken mainly from the local pap

ers in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Anyone who is unable to read a newspaper due to sight problems or other disability can receive the Talking Magazine. We currently send out, free of charge, each edition to over 400 people. As from April 2009, we started recording on to USB Memory Sticks (Pen Drives) for 40 of our listeners. This pilot exercise was a great success, so from December 2009, this method of recording was extended to all our listeners. Special USB Players are issued to those listeners who need them. Registered Blind and Partially-sighted people qualify immediately, and can enrol with little formality. Other partially-sighted people qualify if they have N12 vision or worse, and a certificate is given to this effect by a doctor, optician or other qualified person. This certificate is needed to comply with Post Office regulations to enable the 'FREE POST - Articles for the Blind' facility to be extended to the person wishing to receive the Talking Magazine. We also now provide our recordings via the Talking Newspaper app, via an accessible web player or through the Alexa skill. We have about 40 volunteers who all give their time freely to produce the magazine. We work from our own studio at 25 Portland Street, Hull, HU2 8JX. We rely totally on donations from the public and businesses; grants from various charitable trusts and local authorities; and legacies.