Local news for blind, visually impaired and print disabled people

Welcome to Swindon Talking News

The fortnightly Swindon and District News (STAN) gives blind, visually impaired and print disabled listeners a free, independent means of keeping in touch with what is going on in the local community.

Become a listener Support us

Picture of Hazel Volunteer Reader in the recording studio

Picture of Glenn Volunteer Sound Engineer at the mixing desk

Picture of Tokuma Volunteer Audio Editor at a recording session

Picture of Mike Production and Volunteer Co-ordinator sat at the microphone

Keeping in touch with the local community

The "Talking News" contains local news items from the Swindon Advertiser; features of general interest including sport, local history and interviews.

There are several ways to listen; all for free. It is recorded onto a memory stick which is sent out to listeners and can be played on a USB player (sometimes referred to as a "boom box"); available via Alexa and on the TNF Web Player.

Listen Now

Listen to your local news live here

Listen live here

Local support and partners keep us going

The following organisations make a positive contribution to the Swindon Talking News. We would like to thank them for helping us to continue the service to blind, partially sighted and print disabled people and helping us to move forward in providing a better service.

Volunteer for us

Jane Jones, Volunteer Reader

I am Jane Jones and I am 68. I retired from my job as a primary school teacher in 2015. I am married with 2 grown up daughters and 1 grandson and 1 granddaughter. I also volunteer in a charity shop, as well as listening to readers in the reception class of my grandchildren's primary school and announcing at swimming galas.

Reading for STAN was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but couldn't fit it in whilst teaching. I wanted to do this because of my paternal grandfather, who lost his sight when my mum was pregnant with me, so he never saw me but I used to read to him as soon as I was able.

Jane Jones

DT, Listener

I received my first issue of Swindon Talking News along with the player in 2022 as I had been unable to read the Swindon Advertiser for about 4 years due to fading eyesight. This has been a new experience for me which I have found most interesting, informative and entertaining. My sincere thanks to you all and I look forward to future editions.

DW, Listener

Thank you for all the enjoyment

DJ, Listener

Many thanks for my first edition of the memory stick from the Talking News, which I enjoyed listening to all the items very much. Looking forward to the next one.