A TALKING newspaper is set to go digital thanks to thousands of pounds from the owners of the Oxford Mail.

Didcot, Abingdon and Wantage Talking Newspaper (Dawn) received £6,848 from our parent company Gannett through its charitable foundation.

The group, which records papers for people with sight problems, will now buy new digital recording equipment and banish tapes to the dustbin forever.

Treasurer Paul Dickinson said they will now be using USB sticks to store the newspapers, which can then be re-used, and will also buy digital music players with the cash.

He said: “All of us at Dawn are most grateful to the Gannett Foundation, which has granted us our full target of £6,848 for digitising Dawn.

“With this funding we will be able to change our weekly service of local news to the blind from obsolescent audio tapes to digital memory sticks. Memory sticks will be easier for our visually impaired recipients to use and give much higher audio quality.”

The volunteer-run group sends weekly recordings to about 130 visually impaired people in the county.

Mr Dickinson added: “The funding will also enable us to provide each of our users with a digital player, on which to listen to memory sticks from Dawn and other organisations.

“We expect delivery of the players in a few weeks time. We will then distribute and demonstrate them to our users in time for the start of ‘Digital Dawn’ this spring.

“All this thanks to the Gannett Foundation.”

Also celebrating a windfall was the The Art Room at Rose Hill Primary School, Oxford, which was given £2,300.

The scheme, which supports young people aged six to 15 with troubled backgrounds, will use the money to buy a printing press and a sewing machine.

Every six months, the Gannett Foundation hands out about £250,000 to charities in the UK.

The company looked for applications which take a creative approach to community issues and benefit a large number of people.

Schemes considered were those which will have a lasting effect, or help people with special needs, or involve sport, the environment, conservation and local history.

Last year, Didcot Mental health organisation Restore received £15,000 towards a new minibus and The Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, at Milton Park, was given £2,632 for an automatic door.

Oxfordshire Crossroads also received £25,300 for a specially adapted van.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill said: “Competition for Gannett grants is fiercer than ever across the country. I’m delighted that local groups have shared in this year’s payout.”

For more information about the Dawn Talking Newspaper go to dawntn.org.uk or call 01235 764413.