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VOLUNTEERS from the Redditch and Bromsgrove Talking Newspaper (R&BTN) finally got together in person after working remotely from home since the start of the pandemic.
The members – many who had never met – had the chance to socialise face-to-face at a barbecue held in the beer garden of Barnt Green Social Club.
In glorious sunshine, the event was a great success, with attendees able to swap stories about their personal involvement in the valuable charitable work.
Three years ago, a small team came together to move the weekly local news service for the sight impaired online.
Prior to Covid, recordings were created at Community House in Redditch and provided listeners with their news via USB sticks posted out free, courtesy of the Royal Mail.
But the pandemic prevented the R&BTN team from meeting so the service ceased for a while. It was then the enthusiastic team set up online and the service has now been going strong for the past three years.
Ranging across all ages, the number of volunteers has grown to around 50 with skill sets ranging from reading, production, cuttings and editing to research, sound editing and copying.
Margaret Mountford, the R&BTN chair, said: ‘’I was so thrilled the team was able to meet up at last in such a wonderful setting.
“It was a privilege to witness the shared enthusiasm and dedication of so many, for the great service which we provide to the sight impaired, and others with associated reading difficulties.”
R&BTN is published online every Friday, providing local news across the region.
Features also include an Advice Centre, What’s On in the area, historic and naturalist articles, plus a weekly quiz.
People can visit bwbf.org.uk access the R&BTN online service.
