A CHARITY that provides recordings of local news for the blind and partially sighted is appealing for volunteers and donations.

Every week, Renfrewshire Sound's team reads the news from local media outlets and record it onto CDs and flash drives.

The free service has been running for more than 40 years and sends out more than 30 USB and CDs each week along with around 100 people also accessing the service online.

Sheila Maguire is in her 80s and has used the service for five years due to problems with her sight.

The Paisley resident said: “You get all the news that you wouldn’t get on national radio or television.

"Sometimes I’m better informed about what’s going on locally than some of my friends who can read the papers." 

Sheila’s late husband, Bill, volunteered for Renfrewshire Sound for over 20 years.

She said: “Bill used to run our daughter to Renfrewshire Sound and sit waiting for her to finish her recording session reading the local newspapers.

“Then one night he decided he would put this waiting time to good use and he volunteered to read the news as well. 

“Bill used to read out all the sports stories and one day we were in a supermarket and someone who heard us talking turned to Bill and said ‘I recognise that voice. You’re the man who reads out all the sports news!’.”

Sheila continued: “At the time I never realised that one day I would need to use the talking newspaper service, but with my eyesight deteriorating, it’s become very important to me.

“I would miss it if I didn’t have the flash drives being delivered to me so I could listen to all the local news and stories about Paisley’s history." 

Ian Glover, chairman of the charity, highlights that the service is funded solely from grants and public donations, stating that it takes more than £5000 a year to keep the free service going.

He said: "We’d love to hear from people who would be willing to volunteer to read the news. You don’t need to be a professional broadcaster and after a couple of hours training the new volunteers would be ready to get in front of the mic." 

As well as appealing for volunteers and donations, Renfrewshire Sound is also asking people with sight issues to come forward if they want to get their news in the ‘talking newspaper format’.

Ian added: "Any money we get is gratefully received and every penny goes to making sure the service continues.”

Donations to the charity can be made on their website at www.renfrewshiresound.com.