Improving the quality of life for hundreds of locals...
With local news coverage declining, talking newspapers all over the country are closing but at Wealden Talking News, numbers are on the up thanks to their hugely popular news and Sussex-wide magazine service.
WTN are a registered charity producing weekly memory sticks of spoken news and features taken from the local papers together with a monthly magazine service – completely free of charge for the visually impaired or anybody who struggles to read.
The team produce 5 editions of news each week covering Heathfield & District, Crowborough & Uckfield, Hailsham & Polegate, Seaford & Newhaven, Brighton & District.
WTN also record 3 magazines monthly, Sussex Life & Saga, People’s Friend and their own compilation, Listeners’ Sussex Magazine. Listeners can tune in to listen to all recordings online or they can choose to receive free USB sticks containing the spoken news or magazine articles posted to their homes.
USB stick audio players are also loaned by WTN! Royal Mail deliver the USB sticks and collect them again - free of charge. It’s a wonderful service offered by a dedicated team of 84 volunteers.
An invitation from the team
Last week we were kindly invited by the WTN team to a studio tour, as a thank you for sponsoring their Hailsham & Polegate issue. We gratefully accepted and had an absolutely fantastic morning. It was such an insightful visit, seeing what goes on behind the scenes. The team run a very slick operation, managing to turnaround their recordings and get them dispatched much quicker than you’d expect!
We still can’t quite believe how brilliant their setup is and how hard-working the volunteers are.
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
Wealden Talking News was thrilled to receive the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in June 2022.
The award was presented by Andrew Blackman, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex on 31 August 2022 at Etchingham Village Hall. The occasion was celebrated by around 70 volunteers, MP Hugh Merriman, High Sheriff, Jane King, Vice Lord Lieutenant, Sarah Stonor and many distinguished guests and friends.
Find out more
Visit www.wealdentalkingnews.org.uk to learn more about this fantastic free service available to those who struggle to read in East or West Sussex. Alternatively you can leave a message by calling 01435 862304 and a member of the team will get back to you.