Welcome to Bolton Newstalk!

Bolton Newstalk is a registered charity No. 507293 and is a member of the Talking News Federation (TNF), the national body of talking newspapers.

We provide a free, fortnightly digest of local news from the Bolton area, for the blind/visually impaired or disabled, recorded with the co-operation of the local newspaper - The Bolton News. The programme is recorded at our own studio at The Sensory Centre, Thicketford and made into a podcast, it is also posted on the Talking Newspaper app. It is also available via Alexa and now it is also available by calling 01204 226336, this service is for people who do not have internet access or a smart phone. If you know of anyone who may benefit from this service, please let them know, it is charged at a local call number unless you have a phone package whereby most calls are included. After 55 minutes you will hear a beep, so that you can hang up and redial, it remembers where you were listening.

We can also provide an Audio Conversion Service, with printed CDs if required, at very reasonable rates.

There will be an Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 20th May 2025, 7:00pm at The Southfields, Green Lane, Bolton, to discuss the future of Bolton Newstalk. If you would like to attend please contact Bolton Newstalk Secretary Jim Walton on 07547914637 or email newstalk@icloud.com

If you are interested in our work and would like to support us, or are interested in our Audio Conversion Service, please feel free to contact us.

PLEASE NOTE: Our website has “audio description” for each section, which can be accessed by pressing the play buttons like the one below.

 
 

Talking newspaper for the visually impaired

Bolton Newstalk was founded in 1976, by people who felt that the blind and partially sighted of Bolton should be able to have access to the news. From this small beginning has risen Bolton Newstalk.

Right now, you may be listening to the radio. Later, you might watch the television and tomorrow you might read the newspaper. Unfortunately, that isn’t a choice that everyone has. Which is why at Bolton Newstalk, we give blind, visually impaired and disabled people the opportunity to keep up to date with local news, taken (with their permission) from the Bolton News.

Every other Sunday, we record articles from the Bolton News and they are then available via a podcast on our website, or on the BWBF app, and Alexa Smart Speaker (courtesy of TNF) or by dialling 01204 226336. Our service relies solely on donations and small grants, and we need your help to keep it going. Find out how you can donate.

Because of the voluntary work we do, in 2022 we were delighted to have gained the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

If you are interested in our work and would like to support us, or are interested in our Audio Conversion Service, please feel free to contact us.

 

Original founder members of Bolton Newstalk (© Bolton News)

What We do

The Bolton News allow us to use and adapt articles from their newspaper, and every two weeks a team of volunteers record the news programme.  These teams consist of:

  • a Producer - responsible for editing and compiling the programme

  • a Studio Manager - dealing with all technical aspects of the recording

  • Readers (maximum of 4) - who read the articles compiled by the Producer

  • We distribute Bolton Newstalk programmes to our listeners via a podcast, which is made available through this website and courtesy of TNF, via the British Wireless Fund for the Blind App. and the Alexa Smart Speaker (instruct Alexa to “enable Bolton Newstalk”). It is also available by dialing 01204 226336

As well as bi-weekly news bulletins, we record seasonal magazine programmes, which include useful information. 

For other organisations, we offer an Audio Conversion Service, which can be recorded onto printed CD's or USB as required.  Get in touch to find out how we can help you.

 

 What’s new at Newstalk

Featured
Access to Newstalk
Read More →
2024 Newstalk AGM - Chairman’s Report.
Read More →
Royal Bolton Hospital Eye Unit Project
Read More →
 

Steering Committee

Meet our steering committee and volunteer coordinators!

 
jim.jpg

Jim Walton

Secretary

Michael Haworth

Chairman

gaynor.jpg

Gaynor Cox

treasurer

 

 Donations

The most direct way of supporting us is by making a donation. We carefully monitor all of our operations to make sure that the highest proportion possible of all donations go straight to our projects. We do not waste your money on merchandising. 

There are a variety of ways of making donations:

  • By regular direct debit

  • One-off annual contribution

  • Remember us in your will

To arrange your donation, you can contact us by;

Contact Us

Do you want to get involved? 

Would you like to find out more about our organisation and its projects?  

Please contact us using the form below, and we will be happy to give you any information that you need.

You can also leave a message on our telephone. Please note that this phone is not checked on a regular basis, but someone will return your call.

Our Office

The Sensory Centre
336 Ainsworth Lane
Bolton
BL2 2QL

Tel: 07547914637
e-mail: newstalk@icloud.com