More Volunteers needed!
The Shaftesbury Area Talking Newspaper is a group of volunteers who give their time and skills to produce a recorded round-up of local news every two weeks on a USB stick. The USBs are posted to about 40-50 blind and partially-sighted people immediately after recording, done on a Wednesday. Recordings are done in the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk in Shaftesbury.
| Role | What they do | Number per edition |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Keep everything going, liaise with Dorset Blind Association and Talking News Federation (TNF), visit new recipients and organise equipment for them, meet new volunteers. | One |
| Secretary | Take minutes at committee meetings and AGM, and arrange annual social gathering (tea-party)/meeting | One |
| Rota organiser and Reader coordinator | Prepare rotas every quarter based on who is available to do which role for every edition, and to balance readers (usually one male & one female). | One |
| Wallet preparer (“walleteer”) | Needed for 1-2 hours on a Wednesday morning when recording is being done that afternoon. Returned wallets need to have USBs removed and cleaned and address labels turned over. | Usually two |
| Editor | Scrutinise local newspapers and select about 30 items of interest. Group them into a clear running order and write links between pieces. Edit each item for the listening audience and to help the readers. | One or good if couple do it |
| Reader | Needed for 2.5 hours on a Wednesday afternoon to read the copy provided and make it sound interesting. Help fill wallets with USBs once recording finished. | Two, preferably one male & one female |
| Technician | Set up equipment in recording room, check it is all working. Manage the recording of the edition ensuring clarity. Immediately make sufficient USB copies from the master. Forward recording to Talking News Federation (TNF) for on-line listening, including use with an Alexa device. | One |
| Quality control / feedback | Listen to every edition and give feedback with aim to improve future editions. | One |
If you think you might fill one of these roles, then do email Enquiries@ShaftesburyTN.uk