Swing with the big band to help visually impaired

Fareport Talking Newspapers, which provides recorded versions of The News to people who are visually impaired, is holding its big annual fundraiser later this month.

The charity, which covers Fareham and Gosport, has been going for the past 21 years.

It relies on dozens of volunteers to extract the most relevant Fareham and Gosport stories from papers such as The News, and record them for blind people to listen to each week.

On October 29, at Crofton Community Centre, at Stubbington, the Sarisbury Green Big Band, under the leadership of trumpeter Tony Linford, will perform an evening of big band classics.

Terry Wilson is a volunteer for the charity.

He said: ‘It is going to be a fantastic evening.

‘It’s so popular that it sells out every year with people asking when the next one is going to be before the night even ends.’

Fareport Talking Newspapers relies on donations which come from listeners and their families.

They have lots of volunteers who put the recordings together in their Stubbington studios. But the problem they have is reaching their target audience.

Mr Wilson explained: ‘We need to get awareness out to our listeners.

‘One of our biggest problems is reaching our listeners.

‘We used to be able to contact newly-visually impaired people through social services but that isn’t the case any more.

‘We are now targeting people who know people who may want to use our service.

‘It’s really important that we get the word out there.’

Doors open at 1.45 for 2.15pm. Tickets are £10 each or £9 each if you buy two.

Tickets can be pre-booked by ringing the studio on 01329 664364.

To find out more about the charity call the number above or go to talkingnews-fareport.org.uk.