A SERVICE providing access to local news and information for visually impaired residents is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
Lichfield Talking News provides weekly updates using headlines from the likes of Lichfield Live to ensure locals stay connected to the community around them.
John May MBE, from the organisation, said it was still trying to return to supporting the numbers it did before the Covid pandemic.
He said:
"That period had a dramatic effect on the Lichfield Talking News – we lost 172 listeners. They were often isolated and scared to leave their homes.
"We visited every listener and determined their needs. They were far beyond our expectations.
"So we set about trying to repair the lives that had been so badly affected.
"Unfortunately, most of the support that we used to rely on had disappeared during Covid and hasn’t been reinstated since."
John said he was hopeful word-of-mouth would help connect the organisation with those visually impaired local residents in need of access to news.
He explained:
"The names and addresses of the sight-afflicted are quite rightly protected because they are very vulnerable. This means we cannot easily find who needs us – they have to find us instead.
"Not everyone with a sight problem will want our service, but if you know of anyone in the area of Lichfield and surrounds who cannot read for any reason, please tell them to get in touch with us.
"Our weekly service is totally free. We provide any necessary equipment and postage is free too."
For more details call John on 07948 794982.
