Press Release

Fiona McLeod MSP Records the Glasgow Herald for the Blind (release date 2001-08-01)

[Bishopbriggs] Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland and Deputy Shadow Minister for the Environment Fiona McLeod responded recently to a call for new volunteer presenters for "The Herald" talking newspaper for the blind. Recorded by the Bishopbriggs based charity Cue and Review Recording Service "The Herald" is one of its leading titles and therefore requires a number of volunteers to ensure that it reaches blind and partially sighted people throughout Glasgow.

Fiona was the first to respond to an email to all the West of Scotland MSPs made by our Managing Editor and founder Alastair McPhee. Alastair said, "formerly Cue and Review Recording Service was heavily involved in government training programmes such as New Deal but as unemployment levels have apparently fallen we have found it increasingly difficult to ensure that the 71,000 audio cassettes are not just recorded but also duplicated and posted. While some 30 people are committed volunteers within the service, we record some 59 editions of magazines or newspapers each month."

Fiona said, "recording articles from "The Herald" newspaper was actually more difficult than I first thought, the temptation is always there for a politician to add their own comments"

Recently we have utilised the services of the East Dunbartonshire Volunteer Centre and have contacted Glasgow call centres for assistance. Most importantly however we need local people who want to come in and erase and duplicate our tapes. Should any of your readers be interested in joining our service please contact the Volunteer Centre on 0141-578-6680 or Cue and Review Recording Service office 0141-563-0306.

Notes to Editors

Cue and Review Recording Service is Scotland's largest independently funded talking newspaper group, transcribing fifteen print magazines and newspapers into audio formats for the benefit of visually- and reading-impaired people.

Cue and Review Recording Service is one of over 600 talking newspapers and magazine groups throughout the United Kingdom, but the only one providing a range of audio tapes specifically for young people.

Cue and Review Recording Service is based in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. It is a Scottish registered charity and a company limited by guarantee but without share capital. As a non-statutory organisation it must raise every penny it spends. Income is drawn from donations, street collections, individual grants and from transcription work carried out for commercial clients. This helps them meet their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Contact Information

Alastair McPhee

alastairmcphee@cueandreview.org.uk