An award-winning talking newspaper service provides a “lifeline” for blind and partially sighted people living in south Essex, but it needs new volunteers.

The Wickford and District Talking Newspaper, based at the George Hurd Centre in Audley Way, Basildon, has provided audio recordings of local and national news for four decades.

Echo: Mike received a British Empire Medal for his volunteer work at the talking newspaper.Mike received a British Empire Medal for his volunteer work at the talking newspaper. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

It is one of 580 talking newspapers in the country, collaborating with other services covering Rayleigh, Rochford, and Castle Point, along with Southend and Thurrock.

Former newspaper typesetter Mike Ballinger BEM has been involved with the service for 25 years.

He said: “We provide news to blind, partially sighted people and anyone who’s totally housebound.

Echo: Volunteers like Sally read the articles while Mike mans the recording desk.Volunteers like Sally read the articles while Mike mans the recording desk. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

“We get little notes from listeners who are so grateful. That keeps everyone going.

“Some of them don’t know what they’d do without it. It’s a lifeline.”

Echo: Talking newspaper Chair Sally Webb has been a part of the team for 29 years.Talking newspaper Chair Sally Webb has been a part of the team for 29 years. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

The service runs entirely off its team of 40 volunteers and won the Queen’s Award for voluntary service in 2010.

In December, Mike was awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours, “for his community work within the Wickford area”.

He insists: “I wouldn’t have got it without our volunteers, without whom the talking newspaper would not exist.”

Recordings can be accessed via an app, a website, or via USB memory sticks posted directly to listeners. The USB sticks can be played on “boomboxes”, specialised players which are lent to listeners. 1,000 sticks are sent out every month.

Echo: Recordings received in the post can be played on free-to-use USB players.Recordings received in the post can be played on free-to-use USB players. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Mike said: “The service is totally free, but we do rely on donations from listeners and the public. If that fails, I go out and rob a bank – which is difficult these days, with so few around.

“One thing that has come to light is a lot of listeners say they don’t know what services are available for blind or partially sighted people. That’s why we record a monthly magazine programme called ‘the Informant’, to share that information.”

Echo: 85 per cent of the talking newspaper's stories come from the Echo.85 per cent of the talking newspaper's stories come from the Echo. (Image: Jess Day-Parker)

Chair Sally Webb, 76, of Bridgecote Lane, Laindon, reads the newspapers and prepares articles for recording.

She said: “Blind and partially sighted people in the area would not know about local news to the extent we can provide.

“Mike got his BEM award for finding a way for us to keep going from home during Covid. Because of that, most listeners didn’t feel cut off at the time.

“During normal times, the service helps people know what’s going on.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer is urged to contact Mike on 07703 549966.