The Ilkley Talking Newspaper was a long-standing, vital volunteer service for visually impaired and physically disabled residents of the town. Following a transition, the service for Ilkley is now primarily delivered by the Wharfedale Talking News, which absorbed the service to ensure continuity for local listeners.

The core purpose is to provide audio recordings of local news and magazine content, free of charge, to people who have difficulty reading or handling printed publications due to sight impairment or physical disability.

Key Content: Weekly recordings feature news, articles, and announcements primarily taken from the Ilkley Gazette and the Wharfedale Observer. Monthly recordings also include a ‘magazine’ selection from popular publications like The Dalesman and Yorkshire Life.

Delivery Format: The news is typically recorded onto USB memory sticks and distributed free of charge through the post to listeners. The recordings are also often made available online.

Volunteers: The service relies entirely on dedicated volunteers who manage various roles, including editing, reading, recording, copying, and dispatching the audio news every week.

By delivering the audible version of the local newspaper just a few days after the print edition, the service ensures that those who are sight-impaired remain connected with their community, aware of local events, and included in local discussions, thereby combating isolation.