Letters

Talking newspaper volunteer appeal

SHAFTESBURY Area Talking Newspaper (for the blind and disabled) is a charity geared to supply local audio news to blind listeners, within an area of about 15 miles radius of Shaftesbury.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we lost some of our listeners and volunteers – especially editors.

Our ‘editors’ are actually script composers who cut and paste articles from the New Blackmore Vale and assemble them into a script of say 35 or so pages – half an A4.

We depend on the New Blackmore Vale almost entirely for our output and could not offer an acceptable service without it.

An editor/script writer is an ideal job for a volunteer happy working from home as once the script is ready it only has to be delivered to the The Friends Meeting House in Shaftesbury on the Wednesday following the publication of the latest edition of the magazine.

An editor would be asked to produce a script once every six to eight weeks, so not too onerous.

We have been in existence for over 30 years serving the blind in our area – we have made more than 1,300 recordings so far.

We record on USBs which are posted gratis by Royal Mail in re-usable wallets/envelopes. Recipients listen on players we supply on loan or which may also be purchased.

Our recordings are also available online or via Alexa devices.

Editors, of course, will be given advice on how to produce a script, and anyone interested should contact Colin Francis on 01747 851803 or email colinfrancis669@gmail.com

Colin Francis Lead Editor SATN

to repeat my previous letter: Why isn’t it compulsory for all new builds to install at the beginning, either solar panels or other sustainable power options? It seems a no-brainer to me.

Allan Robson Sturminster Newton

A BIG thank you to Lorraine Drake of the New Blackmore Vale’s magazine distribution department, and Joe, manager of Red Post petrol station, who arranged to supply and stock your three publications.

The petrol station – close to Winterborne Zelston off the A31 – re-opened in early December.

After a few phone calls and emails we now have the excellent New Blackmore Vale, Purbeck Gazette and New Stour & Avon magazines available free for all in the local community and visitors to Dorset to collect and read.

We have a small team of paperboys – senior version – who run a rota for Winterborne Zelston village and collecting from the well-stocked petrol station, this saves us time and money for petrol.

Winterborne Zelston paperboys Lynne, Steph, John and David (Merry Christmas and not on strike)

WHEN an honorary Dukedom is given to an active member of the Royal family, it is obvious it should be removed when physically he is no longer resident, nor active and even critical of the monarchy.

David Prichard Sherborne

THIS December, on top of the devastating reality of facing cancer at Christmas, families of children and young people going through treatment have increasing costs to get to hospital as well as a devastating rise in energy bills at home, when they need to keep their child warm.

For families supported by

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall – justsocaricatures.co.uk

Young Lives vs Cancer, life is getting even harder with the pressures of the rising cost of living.

As the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, we are seeing families we support in Dorset having to deal with the uncontrollable costs of cancer.

The pressure is becoming unbearable and they are left having to make impossible choices.

Young Lives vs Cancer has launched a crisis fund appeal to offer families grants to help lessen the burden of bills this winter and New Blackmore Vale readers can visit www. younglivesvscancer.org.uk to give today.

As well as donating, there are other ways the community in Dorset can support Young Lives vs Cancer’s work this Christmas.

You can visit our online shop – www.younglivesvscancer.org. uk/join-our-fight/get-shopping – to buy this year’s Christmas cards and toys or choose from our range of stocking filler gifts.

We also have a range of festive pin badges with designs available online and at J D Wetherspoon for a suggested £1 donation.

I would like to thank everyone in the community who has supported Young Lives vs Cancer this year. Your help and generosity mean the charity can continue to be there for more children and young people from Dorset facing cancer.