Positive News Day - Cue and Review

There are thousands of people in Scotland who have visual difficulties. Many are too embarrassed to ask for help and it can take a sharp-eyed member of the family or friend to notice things 'just aren't right'. Sometimes an older person needs to be assured there is help for them as many put changes down to 'old age'.

I was curious last week to see a Twitter message from MekQuarrie in which he mentioned Cue and Review. Now, I'd never heard of Cue and Review and maybe that's because I live in the east of Scotland as C & R are based in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. The transcribing is performed by a band of 60 enthusiastic volunteers.

C & R Recording Service (Print Speaking to the Blind), in its 26th year, provide a range of audio titles for visually impaired people. The titles they supply include The Herald, Sunday Herald, Evening Times, Radio Times Scotland, Inside Soap, Earth Matters, SFX, Star Trek, Empire and more magazines or newspapers. Available on audio cassette, CD or as a podcast the membership fee is 70p a week. They send out 71,040 tapes each year to 1,050 visually and reading impaired people.

Funding is received via grants and donations, one of which last year was from the Souter Charitable Trust (founder Brian Souter of Stagecoach). The SCT donated £10,000 to the organisation.

How heartening to know so many people are able to keep 'reading' their usual paper or magazine and also keep a little of their independence - all thanks to a group of volunteers who perhaps don't get mentioned nearly as much as they should. Well done the 60 strong C & R Recording team!

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