For the last 5 months, on a Wednesday and Friday, I record articles from the Lifestyle section of the Glasgow Times.

As I have the means to do so, I’m able to record, edit and upload articles from the house.

Initially the idea was that my 12 year old daughter would record articles and I would do the rest.

It hasn’t worked out that way, she isn’t really at the point where she is capable due to some of the wording and terminology used.

I can’t blame her, I struggle at times!

My wife also reads an odd article or two so we try to all pitch in as a family when we can.

It’s a great way to catch up on the local news and to benefit those with sight loss.

If you have free time or are retired and are a little bit tech savvy why not consider helping out!

I’ve only been volunteering for about a year and a half. I got involved because I used to travel through to Bishopbriggs to record, and that’s how I know Karen McPhee and Morag Mackay. I really enjoyed the camaraderie in the Cue and Review Studio. Then I went to live abroad for 15 years.

So, a while after I came back, I remembered how much I enjoyed recording, phoned Cue and Review, got talking to Iain, and now here I am. It’s so very worthwhile to support people with visual impairment and its fun to volunteer with Cue and Review, its easy to manage the time, and there’s great support from Iain.

I like volunteering with Cue and Review — print speaking to the blind. As well as being an enjoyable activity, it is a very worthwhile service, appreciated by listeners who have visual impairment or reading difficulties and who cannot otherwise access newspaper articles. I would strongly urge anyone who is wondering whether to volunteer as a reader to give it a try. You will join a friendly team, and you do not need fancy equipment to do this. You can even complete your recordings using a smartphone. Most volunteer readers complete their work from the comfort of their own homes. If you would like to ask questions informally about being a volunteer reader, please do not hesitate to email me: readersdirector@cueandreview.com

I volunteer for Cue & Review reading the Evening Times, The National & the Glasgow Herald, takes me an hour on 3 days a week. It is interesting and really valuable for our listeners who are visually impaired. My mum had macular degeneration & I know how much she valued her weekly tapes which kept her connected to the world.

I came across Cue & Review during my visit to a volunteer day at EDVA to support the CRED charity my wife is a trustee for. I stopped to speak with Iain about how the organisation was doing. Hearing they were looking for more volunteers, I thought I could offer my voice to record the Church news from the Kirky Herald. I have retired as a missionary with OM UK, and spent years visiting Scottish churches and working overseas as well. So I now have a lot of free time. Between my acting and singing with a gospel choir I felt God had opened a door to the local community. I enjoy recording the news which allows others to hear what's new and what is happening from the local churches in the area.

Its good to keep in touch with local news & pass it onto people.

Highs and lows of volunteering.

I’ve been volunteering for almost two years now- so I’m relatively
new to the team. I got involved through a friend who knew about the charity and suggested that I might enjoy volunteering with them as a reader. I do!

Lows
I have to admit I’m a techno dinosaur and so was worried about the mechanics of recording from home and sending off the finished product. For the first few months I recorded in the studios at Bishopbriggs then when I felt confident enough I began to record at home. It is all incredibly simple. With only an iPad I can do everything required!

Highs
I do enjoy the ‘work’ of reading the newspaper. I’m very interested in current affairs so I would be reading the news anyway. I am also interested in the writing process so I can’t help but look at how the writers construct their articles and achieve their desired outcomes( nerdy I know!). Best of all it is good to know that reading and recording helps others keep up to date with the daily news. So actually it isn’t work at all rather it is a pleasure and I’m glad to contribute in this way.

I’ve been recording with Cue and Review for just over a year now. I record in the main studio, at the Cue and Review office, reading the News section in the Glasgow Times on Wednesdays. Reading new articles lets me keep up on current events but recently I feel like articles have been getting shorter as of late. The premise of the organisation resonated with me as I have a family member with limited visibility. The training, while simple was very effective in getting me to understand what I had to do. Corrie was very helpful.

I have been recording for Cue and Review for almost two years. When I started reading, I had full vision, but during the last six months, due to a detached retina, I now only have sight in my left eye. This has brought home to me the importance of what we do and how a small investment of my time can make a positive difference in individuals' lives.I enjoy reading, and even learning some of the more difficult footballers' and sportspeople’s names has been a laugh. The importance of this work cannot be understated in terms of reducing social isolation, providing informal learning, and creating a sense of community. If you are considering investing your time as a volunteer or your money as a funder, please do it. A small investment of time and resources goes a long way in this organisation, and you will have no issue measuring your return on investment.

I've been involved with recording for the visually impaired for many years, and have enjoyed providing a 'window on the world' to people with sight problems. I've been reading for Cue & Review for two and a half years, and enjoy my weekly commitment to read from the 'Glasgow Times' and 'The National'. It fits well into my day, I can do it from home and I can tailor my recordings to the time I have available. It gives me a chance to see behind the news headlines and I feel better informed as a result