Although the listeners receive the memory sticks free and volunteers give their time for free there are expenses that have to be met. The memory sticks that are sent to blind and visually impaired people are sent out and returned by the Post Office under the Articles for the Blind regulations at no charge to the organisation or the listener. STAN pays the cost of postage for disabled people. Swindon Borough Council meets the rent and utilities costs of the studio. Many organisations such as Rotary, Round Table, Lions, Companies, Staff organisations and many individuals make financial contributions.

We have studios and offices on the upper floor of the local blind association’s headquarters. Although the Association shares Craven House with the Swindon Branch of the Wiltshire Blind Association, it does not have the same security of tenure. For almost ten years it had a ‘Tenancy at Will’ with the local authority which meant that the Association could be forced to vacate the premises at short notice if required. In December 1993, a three-year lease was signed with Wiltshire County Council that allowed the Association to plan ahead with a greater degree of confidence. The lease was last renewed in 2010 and now comes under the control of Swindon Borough Council as the new unitary authority.