ALL are welcome to attend tonight’s annual meeting of a charity that provides audio news and magazines for blind and partially-sighted people.

Volunteers behind the South West Dorset Talking Newspaper will be meeting from 7pm in St Nicholas Church Hall, Buxton Road, Weymouth.

Not only is the event a chance for members of the public to find out more about the service, which provides a lifeline for visually-impaired people across the region, but the annual general meeting will also boast a one-act play by Weymouth Drama Club.

The talking newspaper depends on volunteers to provide free distribution of news and magazine-style audio recordings to the visually impaired across Weymouth, Portland, Bridport and Dorchester.

Charity spokesman Eleanor Smith: “We’re keen to let people know that they are welcome to attend the annual general meeting and perhaps if they have an interest, even if it is just to support us in any way, they can find out more about us.

“Also if they know anyone with a visual impairment who would like to receive the talking newspaper and magazine, please come along, or ring us.

“At the AGM we will be thanking Cathrin Dunford, who has given up as chairman after quite a few years, and Ann Sawtell is now chairman and Cathrin vice chairman.

“Cathrin really has worked so hard over the years, and achieved so much.”

She added: “We have more than 80 volunteers, all doing a little bit of reading, or admin, or weekly copying and sending out the newspaper.

“It could only involve an hour every six weeks. We always need people who have a knowledge of computers who can learn the technical side – we are short of technicians.

Find out more at http://www.swdtn.co.uk or call 01305 861282 any Wednesday morning from 9am until 10am.