Trustees Report 2017- 18
Coleraine & Distriet Talking News
Charity No: 103499
Introduction
The Colerainc & District Talking News is based in the RNtB Centre in Abbey Street.
Coleraine. For 41 years we have been providing a free audio service to those in our
ommunity who have a range of visual impaim]¢nts. This year we have once again produced
on CD 49 w¢¢kly 80-minute audio programmes of local community news, useful inforniation
on disabilities, it¢ms of historical interest, humour and music. We aim, in th¢ best tradition of
public setvice, to entertain and infomi.
Current listenership...........130
This figure fluctuates annually and throughout the year due to bereavements, relocation etc
Committee.........................
Volunteers.................21 Frequency.................weekly
Trusteey
Barry Williamson (Chairperson)
Mary Ellard (Treasurer)
Julie Russell
Maur¢¢n McLean
John Cunning
Shannan Wilson (Secretary)
Stan Lightowler MBE
Elainc Lynch
David T¢￿ett
Honorary Prejident
David Barn¢s
Core Activity I Public Benefit
The purpose of our charity is to support blind or partially sighted people and those living with
some temporary or pemiancnt incapacity or disability which makes reading a strain. by the
provision of news and other invonnation via audio recordings or digital transmissions
together with the discretionary provision of equipment considered necessary to use such
transcriptions.
We continu¢ lo fulfil our key purFK>Se as slated above. This work has contributed directly to
our listeners. ability lo take part more fully in local acttvities and to keep them infomed of
events relevant to them. thus provith'ng a social outlet to those who might otherwise be
isolat¢d from iheir local community.
Libraries Nl duplicates from our master CD and, using the free servtce provided by Royal
Mail, sends out individual CDS to each listener on a weekly basis. Our sincere thanks go to
both th¢se organisatlons for their invaluable help and ¢ontinued commitment.
Finanees
It is important to recogmise that. while our expenditure is reasonably sLqble. our income is
totally dependent on the flow of grants and gifts. The committee continu¢ lo research and
pursue a variety of funding sourc¢s and we are happy to report that this year we surpassed
our goal of covering our core expenses. ending the year Wlth an operating profit of £1434.
This was a welcome improvement on last year wh¢n we had an operating loss of £9.
Equipment
We maintain a supply of CDS with Libraries Nl in Ballymena and will be purchasing a new
supply in the coming year. We encountered no technical problems this year and continue to
monitor this imwrtant aspect of our work.