Exciting Changes Ahead for the Galloways Talking News Service

At Galloways, we’re always looking for ways to enhance our services and ensure they continue to meet the needs of our community. As part of this ongoing commitment, we’re thrilled to announce some exciting changes to the Talking News Service, starting in April 2025.

Here Andrew Coleman and James Coulton discuss this move to digital and what it means for our listeners.

Galloways Talking News Transitioning to a Digital Platform

Last year, we conducted a survey to gather feedback from our listeners about the future of the Galloways Talking News Service. The data we collected, along with our ongoing observations, have helped us make a significant decision to transition the Talking News Service to a fully digital platform.

This change is part of our broader effort to ensure the Talking News Service remains sustainable and accessible for years to come. Going digital will not only help us lower costs but will also allow us to expand our offerings. Over time, we’ll be able to provide a wider variety of publications, giving you even more options to enjoy.

How Will This Impact listeners of Galloways Talking News?

Starting on 1st April 2025, you’ll be able to access the Talking News Service through a range of digital platforms, including the Galloways website, Galloways Alexa Skill, and the British Wireless for the Blind app. You’ll be able to access the service directly via the Galloways Digital Hub, where you’ll find the latest publications available at your fingertips.

To allow time for this transition, the final USB and CD deliveries will take place during the week commencing 17th March 2025, so please keep an eye out for this last batch of physical copies.

Changes to recorded publications

We’ve also reviewed the publications we currently offer and have made some changes. We are pleased to confirm that we will continue to record and deliver the following publications:

• Lancashire Post

• Lancaster Guardian

• Morecambe Visitor

• Farmers Guardian

• The Salvationist

• The Methodist Recorder

However, based on listenership, we’ve made the decision to remove the Chorley Guardian and Ormskirk Advertiser from our service. We’ll still ensure that stories from these areas are included within the Lancashire Post, so you won’t miss out on any local news.

Support for the Transition

We understand that this transition may feel overwhelming, especially if you are not familiar with digital technology. That’s why we are committed to providing you with all the support you need to ensure a smooth and stress-free changeover.

Our team at Galloways, including our Learning Skills staff and dedicated volunteers, is available to assist you in setting up smart speakers, such as Alexa devices, and help you navigate the various digital platforms. We have produced a series of large print guides for accessing Talking News on a variety of devices which can be accessed here and will be adding audio instructions in due course.

If you need additional support, we can refer you to the British Wireless for the Blind Fund, which provides free smart speakers to eligible individuals. Additionally, ITSVIP can assist with internet access, data, and smartphones.

Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible, ensuring that you continue to enjoy the Talking News without any disruption. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Galloways by calling 01772 744 148.

Galloways Digital Workshops

We recently hosted a series of workshops where service users learned how to access the Talking News Service using various devices, including a smart speaker, tablet, phone, or computer, these were great opportunities to explore different ways to enjoy the service and for people to ask any questions they had.

For details of future digital workshops and other useful sessions, you can join our mailing list here.

Looking Forward to the Future

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the Talking News Service throughout the years. We’re excited about this next chapter, which we believe will bring a host of benefits to you, our valued listeners. The move to digital will give you faster access to more up-to-date information, a greater variety of publications, and the ability to enjoy the service from virtually anywhere.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to arrange support, please contact the Learning Skills and Lifestyle team at Galloways by calling 01772 744 148. We’re here to help and look forward to continuing to serve you in this new digital format.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to hearing feedback about the new service!