FAQ
How do I become a listener?
Contact our Chairman, Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192 and he will ask you the necessary questions. He can usually arrange for one of our volunteers to visit and can provide one of our MP3 players free of charge to you and demonstrate how to use it.
How do I register an elderly relative?
Contact our Chairman, Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192 and he will ask you the necessary questions. He can usually arrange for one of our volunteers to visit your relative with you present if that makes things easier. We can provide one of our MP3 players free of charge to your relative and demonstrate how to use it.
Will the listener need to borrow a player or can the memory stick be played in a computer?
We can provide one of our MP3 players free of charge and demonstrate how to use it or it can be played in a computer with a USB socket. Some modern radios also have a USB socket so it will play on these as well.
How much does it cost?
If the listener is registered blind or partially sighted, the service is completely free of charge as we take advantage of The Royal Mail’s free post service. If the listener is prevented from reading the newspaper by themselves for a different reason then please just say and we will cover the cost of the outgoing postage, but the service will still remain free of charge to the listener.
How does the listener return the memory stick to you once the news has been listened to?
Each postal wallet has a double sided address label. It will arrive with the listener’s address showing and we ask the listener to reverse this address label once they have finished listening and post it back. No stamp is required. The wallets are delivered to The Henley College from where they are collected by us for the following weeks recording.
Will the listener be expected to make a donation towards the running costs of the charity?
No one is expected to make a donation.But some people do like to show their appreciation in this way and because we rely on donations for our on going running costs, these donations are always very much appreciated.
If the listener lives in a nursing home, will they still be able to have the memory stick delivered to them?
Yes, just give us the address and we can arrange for the memory stick to be delivered there each week.
If the listener goes into hospital, will they be able to continue receiving the weekly news?
Yes, we can continue to send out the recordings to the usual address and a relative or helper can take them to the hospital if required.
What if the listener goes away for a few weeks, can the memory sticks be stopped and restarted later?
Yes, just let us know and we can amend our records accordingly. Please contact Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192.
If the listener moves away from Henley, will they be able to continue receiving the weekly news?
Yes, we have a few listeners who have moved away from the area but like to keep in touch with Henley. Please contact Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192 to inform us of the new address and we will amend the address label.
What do I do if I have a problem playing the memory stick?
Please contact Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192, or any other member of Henley Talking Newspaper whose number you may have and they will be able to advise you.
If the address label is mislaid, what address should the wallet be posted back to?
The Henley and District Talking Newspaper, C/O The Henley College, Deanfield Avenue, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. RG9 1UH.
I’m not registered blind or partially sighted but had a stroke last year and can no longer hold the paper to read. Will I be eligible to receive your service?
Yes. Contact our Chairman, Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192 and he can usually arrange for one of our volunteers to visit you. We can provide one of our MP3 player and demonstrate how to use it.
What should I do if I wish to stop receiving the service?
If for any reason you decide you no longer want to receive the weekly recording of the local news then you can contact Richard Hodgkin on 01491 573192 to let us know. Alternatively, a note can be put in the wallet when returning the memory stick. It would be appreciated if your MP3 player could be returned, by post if necessary, to the Henley College address, as above, and if you clearly mark the package “ARTICLES FOR THE BLIND” it should be accepted post free.