SEDGLEY’S Beacon Centre for the Blind has been forced to cut its talking newspaper service in a bid to save funds.
The cash-strapped centre, which has lost around £250,000 in funding this year, provides services and support for the borough’s blind and partially sighted residents.
Around 350 people currently use the talking newspaper service, although the Wolverhampton Road East centre’s chief executive, Ian Ferguson, admitted that number has fallen from 750 users five years ago.
Mr Ferguson said the axing, which has also put seven jobs at risk, is “part of a series of actions to try to break even”.
He added: “The centre has made a loss of £250,000 this year. Luckily that has been covered by our reserves, but we have to take action now as our reserves won’t continue forever. The talking newspaper service only forms about 10 per cent of the saving.”
Service users are currently being referred to the free Black Country Talking Newspaper and Magazine run by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, based at the Mary Steven’s Centre in Stourbridge.
For more information about the service visit pocklington-trust.org.uk/supportservices/stourbridge/bctnm
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