How can I - or a friend - get a tape? (. . . and other questions)

AS we said on a previous page, we find out about people who would like to receive the service from various sources - or because a friend or neighbour lets us know. All you have to do is call 01270 568267 and give us the details of the person who would like to receive a weekly tape. We will do the rest. We will even loan a cassette recorder to the Listener if they do not own one.

What will it cost me?

Not a penny. There is no charge - not even if we lend you a cassette  recorder. However, most Listeners have their own recorder and use that. And, because Royal Mail delivers all material for sight-impaired people without charge it doesn't cost you anything to send the tape back to us.                             

What if I forget to send my tape back one week?

If we don't receive a tape from someone one week, we will assume that they do not want a tape the following Friday.  We will think that perhaps they are away on holiday and don't want a tape popping through the door, or have had to spend some time in care or in hospital.

   But as soon as we receive a tape we will send a copy of the new tape. Most people send their tape back week in, week out.

   We need the tape back by Wednesday, but if you miss that deadline send it in as soon as you can and you will get a tape the following week. 

   Some Listeners rely on other people to send their tape back but, for one reason or another, that person doesn't do so.

   If you don't get a tape for a while, and the carer or neighbour is adamant they sent the tape in, just drop a line to Crewe and Nantwich Talking Newspaper, c/o the IRIS Vision Resource Centre, 14 Chapel Street, Crewe, CW2 7DQ, and we will try to find out what has gone wrong.

What if I have to go into care or hospital?

If you are ill in hospital you may not wish to be bothered with news [but don't forget that if you do there is also the

excellent hospital Broadcasting Service to keep you in touch] but if you are going into a home for a while there is no reason why the tape cannot be sent to you there - as long as you tell us in a letter which dates you would like to have the tape sent to the alternative address. 

   It might not be a good idea to have the tape diverted if you are off to the seaside for a week. There might be problems.

    In any case, the odds are you would be home before the tape has to be sent back to us.

All tape cassettes feel the same. What if I send in a tape of my favourite singer by mistake?

Hopefully we would spot that a Tom Jones tape - or any other - had been returned instead of a Talking Newspaper one and we could send it back to you. But if we didn't spot it until it had been separated from the yellow postal wallet with your name and address on the reverse of the label it would be kept on one side until you dropped us a note asking for it back. 

I am not totally blind. Can I still receive a weekly tape? 

Yes, of course. We are here to help any sight-impaired person who cannot read The Chronicle for themselves and have no-one who can do it for them. We just need to know that you are registered as blind - which you can be even if you have some residual sight.

What if I get into difficulty with the tape recorder? 

We have people called House Visitors who will be able to call on you and sort out any problems. There will be one living not very far from you - you might even know them already. But even if they are a complete stranger to you, they will take all the usual security precautions when they call. 

Suppose I move away from Crewe and Nantwich?  

If you want to keep in touch with your home town there is no reason why the tapes cannot be sent to you at your new permanent address. Of course, your new home may be within the area of another Talking Newspaper and you could receive their service instead of - or as well as - ours.

There was one other thing . . . 

If your question has not been covered, contact us on 01270 568267 or e-mail us at questions@cntn.org.uk and we will give you the answer.  

So just who are the people behind Crewe and Nantwich Talking Newspaper? Click here to find out.