►
From YouTube: Members' Business: 25th Anniversary of the Borders Talking Newspaper - 14 September 2017
Description
S5M-06818 Rachael Hamilton: 25th Anniversary of the Borders Talking Newspaper—That
the Parliament recognises and congratulates the Borders Talking Newspaper on its 25th
anniversary; considers that the newspaper, which is based in Duns and Hawick, is a vital resource
for people who are completely blind or have visual impairments and want to keep up with local
news and issues; believes that it is a simple yet effective measure to counteract the social
isolation that can occur as a result of sight problems; considers that the 180,000 people across
Scotland who, according to the Royal National Institute for the Blind, have sight problems would
benefit from this or a similar service; recognises the numerous volunteers who give up their time to
help keep this service available every week for listeners, and wishes the volunteers, organisation
and listeners all the best for the future.
Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
www.parliament.scot // We do not facilitate discussions on our YouTube page but encourage you to share and comment on our videos on your own channels. // If you would like to join in our conversations please follow @ScotParl on Twitter or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scottishparliament
A
The
next
item
of
business
is
members
business
to
beat
on
motion
six
eight
one,
eight
in
the
name
of
Rachel
Hamilton,
and
it's
on
the
25th
anniversary
of
the
border.
Talking
newspaper,
the
debate
will
be
concluded
without
any
questions
being
put
and
I
would
ask
those
members
who
wish
to
take
part
to
press
the
request
to
speak
buttons
now
and
I
call
on
Rachel
Hamilton
to
open
the
debate
with
her
own
seven
minutes.
Please.
B
Okay,
Thank
You,
deputy
presiding
officer,
it
give
me
gives
me
great
pleasure
to
bring
this
debate
to
Parliament
a
motion
that
recognizes
and
congratulates
the
hard
work
of
the
borders
talking
newspaper,
a
paper
that
has
celebrated
25
years,
providing
a
service
for
the
blind
and
visually
impaired
and
for
those
who
cannot
read
or
hold
a
local
newspaper
and
I
thank
those
from
borders.
Talking
newspaper
who
have
joined
us
today,
although
I
don't
actually
think
they've
made
it
into
the
chamber
yet.
B
Deputy
presiding
officer
during
summer
recess
I
was
delighted
to
join
those
who
are
intending
to
join
us
in
the
gallery
today
at
a
celebration
garden
party,
where
the
Sun
shone
and
there
was
much
happiness
and
character,
cleland
entertained
us
by
playing
the
fiddle.
We
raised
a
glass
to
the
volunteer
editors
and
readers
who
give
up
their
time
to
make
talking
newspapers
a
success
and
to
all
those
who
work
tirelessly
to
ensure
a
deadline
is
never
missed,
no
matter
what,
however,
I
am
told
that
one
of
these
individuals
made
talking
newspapers
possible.
B
B
25
years
on,
I
understand
that
Matilda
learned
of
a
similar
project
in
Hampshire
from
a
friend
and
on
learning
there
was
nothing
comparable
in
the
Scottish
Borders
made
it
her
mission
to
deliver
the
talking
newspaper
service
for
blind
and
visually
impaired
people
and,
of
course,
would
be
a
miss
of
me
not
to
thank
my
colleagues
for
supporting
my
motion
that
helped
make
this
debate
possible
and
I
look
forward
to
hearing
the
contributions
the
board
is
talking.
Newspaper
is
a
free
local,
weekly
news
and
information
service.
B
It
plays
an
invaluable
and
vital
part
in
many
people's
weekly
routine
talking
newspapers
relies
on
the
generosity
of
their
supporters
to
deliver
a
seamless
service.
The
focus
of
the
service
is
to
provide
local
borders
residents
with
news
items
from
the
weekly
local
papers,
the
southern
reporter,
the
bear
Action
News
and
the
Hoyt
news,
and
although
emphasis
is
local,
the
90-minute
audio
news
program
is
sent
to
listeners
on
a
USB
and
streamed
worldwide
free
of
charge.
So
literally
the
world
can
find
out
what's
happening
in
the
borders.
B
Moreover,
around
160
borders
residents
receive
memory,
sticks
and
specially
designed
players,
so
they
can
access
local
news.
The
key
here
is
access
and
without
the
hard
work
by
talking
newspapers
many
but
would
be
without
access
to
their
local
news
at
risk
of
not
knowing
what
had
happened,
nor
what
was
happening
in
the
future
and
this
service
helps
to
make
sure
everyone
is
informed,
no
matter
their
circumstance.
B
Deputy
presiding
officer
at
the
summer
garden
party
clover,
Reed
told
me
that
board
is
talking.
Newspaper
customers,
love
hearing
the
sound
of
different
voices.
They
start
to
recognize
the
speaker,
their
toes
and
their
inflections,
and
take
comfort
from
a
human
voice.
We
must
remember
the
impact
they're
not
having
access
to
local
newspaper.
Publications
has
to
be
without
takes
away
the
opportunity
to
discuss
local
news
to
stay
informed
on
what's
happening
on
your
doorstep,
to
speak
to
a
neighbor
about
the
headlines
that
matter
to
you
or
the
local
tea
sports
teams
that
you
support.
B
It
risks
isolating
people
within
their
own
community.
Of
course,
it's
important
to
remember
that
in
the
many
of
us
will
need
services
like
borders.
Talking
newspaper,
deputy
presiding
officer,
none
of
us
are
age
proof,
and
some
of
us
will
suffer
eyesight
deterioration,
but
for
now,
because
of
efforts
made
by
Matilda
Wendy
and
the
many
volunteers,
we
need
not
worry
about
not
being
kept
informed
of
local
issues.
Indeed,
it
is
services
such
as
borders.
B
Talking
newspapers
that
the
Royal
National
Institute
of
blind
people
promotes
as
a
means
to
help
those
with
sight
issues,
and
it
is
a
service
that
I
hope
this
debate
will
raise
awareness.
It
is
an
invaluable
service
to
the
lives
of
so
many
and
I
and
will
become
an
invaluable
service
to
people
like
us.
I,
like
many
others,
welcome
the
five
thousand
three
hundred
pounds
from
the
Big
Lottery
Fund
awarded
to
the
paper
as
a
means
to
expand.
B
The
paper
was
again
recognized
for
its
important
contribution
to
board
his
life
when
it
was
rewarded,
five
hundred
pounds
by
Asda
and
Galashiels
talking
newspapers
has
come
a
long
way
in
2012
it
recorded
its
thousands
show.
The
shows
are
no
longer
recorded
on
cassette
tapes
but,
as
I
said
earlier,
or
memory
sticks
that
are
distributed
and
returned
free
of
charge
through
the
Royal
Mail.
It
is
this
technology
that
has
allowed
it
to
reach
more
people
and
deliver
hike
news
and
a
longer
recording
recordings
deliver
news,
as
presented
in
the
publication's.
B
Any
deviation
nor
opinion
is
not
permitted,
as
Matilda's
husband
knows
too
well,
when
he
was
sacked
from
doing
so.
Deputy
presiding
officer
I
hope
that
today's
members
business
will
highlight
and
raise
awareness
of
the
services
of
talking
newspaper
in
the
borders
and
I
hope.
It
will
also
spread
the
idea
of
a
local
talking
newspaper
to
other
areas
where
one
is
not
in
place
and
I
hope.
This
debate
will
raise
the
importance
and
valuable
contributions.
B
C
B
I
mentioned
earlier
that
we
would
love
to
welcome
borders.
Talking
newspaper
to
here
here
today.
I,
don't
know
if
you
heard
me
earlier,
but
I
spoke
very
fondly
about
the
garden
party
that
we
had
in
the
summer
that
was
so
full
of
sunshine
and
entertain
with
carrot,
entertainment
provided
by
carrot,
McClellan
and
I'll
speak
to
you
later,
but
we're
so
delighted
that
you
could
join
us
today.
A
D
Thank
You
presiding
officer,
first
of
all,
I
declare
an
interest
as
not
being
age
proof
and
I
too,
who
would
like
to
welcome
people
from
borders?
Talking
newspapers
I
also
congratulate
Rachel
Hamilton
on
securing
this
debate
on
this
important
motion.
A
motion
I
also
table
because
it
underlines
the
importance
across
both
our
neighboring
constituencies.
D
Indeed,
I
was
lucky
enough
to
be
invited
to
the
recent
AGM
of
borders.
Talking
newspaper
in
the
focus
center
in
Galashiels
and
my
constituency,
I
should
have
known
by
the
congested
carpark
her
well
attended.
It
was,
and
that
was
confirmed
when
I
went
into
the
hole
it
was
packed
with
a
mix
of
volunteers
and
listeners
and
their
partners
by
the
way.
If
you
want
a
good
attendance
and
egm,
it
does
no
harm
to
have
a
hearty
supply
of
sandwiches,
cakes,
tea
and
coffee
at
the
tables
and
too
late
for
eat.
D
As
rachel
has
said,
border
talking
newspaper
was
founded
in
1992
by
Matilda
Mitchell
and
relies
on
its
60
plus
volunteers
to
translate
from
print
to
USB
or
flash
drive.
However,
that
is
all
the
local
gossip,
the
ins-and-outs,
the
hatches
the
matches
and
dispatches
who's
in
the
jail
who's
out
of
the
jail.
Why
events
are
on?
Who
will
be
brawl
ad
and
his
last
this
year
and
so
on,
and
it
puts
a
stop
to
that
feeling
that
you
may
be
isolated
and
excluded
from
everything
local
round
about
you.
D
It
covers
the
southern
reporter
in
my
patch
and
there
it
is
it's
also
its
people's
partner,
which
covers
the
people,
shall
news.
While
in
with
loading,
there
is
Midlothian
news
and
views,
but
back
to
borders.
Talking
news
people
with
at
least
some
200
listeners
and
I
had
a
chat
with
a
few.
At
that
AGM
I
spoke
to
Liam
Hanson
in
his
wife,
Margaret
who's,
one
of
the
listeners.
She
made
it
plain
as
we
scoff
this
me,
scoff
the
cakes.
D
The
cakes
were
very
important
that
it
was
very
important
for
her
to
keep
on
top
of
what
was
going
on
in
her
community.
Be
part
of
the
local
buzz
you
see
in
rural
communities,
while
local
papers
are
having
a
tough
time
like
much
of
the
national
newsprint,
they
still
matter,
they
are
still
bought
and
read
because
their
news
is
very
localized.
D
Indeed,
the
southern
reporter
serves
mainly
the
central
borders,
Galla
Lauder,
Elston
and
Melrose
in
my
patch,
although
occasionally
strays
waste
into
tweed
deal
when
Tweeddale,
it's
the
people
show
news
which
is
more
straight:
anima
glue,
lien,
the
Midlothian
advertiser
and
so
on.
You
know
a
hundred
and
eighty
eight
thousand
people
in
Scotland
currently
suffer
with
sight
loss
or
impairment,
and
that
said
to
double
by
2031,
with
growing
elderly
population
and
increase
in
diabetes.
D
So
talking
newspapers
become
even
more
important
and
the
great
thing
about
this
Parliament
pluses
that
list
debate,
as
with
all
our
other
debates
and
activities,
are
available
online
to
those
with
hearing
impairment
to
keep
in
touch
with
their
Parliament
and
what
it's
up
to
or
what
is
not
doing
so.
I
congratulate
all
the
volunteers
and
then
particular
when
the
most
director
and
Tom
Ingoldsby
trustee
of
borders.
D
E
You
very
much
presiding
officer
can
I
begin
by
echo
in
the
comments
of
Kristin,
Gilliam
and
King
actually
and
reach
or
Hamilton
for
table
and
emotion
and
provide
the
members
with
the
opportunity
to
west
borders.
Talking
newspaper
are
very
happy,
25th
birthday
and
can
also
add
to
the
welcome
to
the
Scottish
Parliament
or
the
volunteers
from
borders.
E
Since
then,
although
no
using
digital
recordings
on
detest
X
and
the
internet,
the
newspaper
has
no
doubt
covered
much
of
our
Parliament's
work
from
a
delivery
of
groundbreaking
legislation
such
as
free
personal
care
for
the
elderly,
the
ban
on
smoking
in
public
places
and,
of
course
the
board
does
really
both
it's.
My
hope
that
soon
they'll
be
able
to
report
on
plans
to
extend
that
real
way
to
Cara
Lee,
all
three,
amongst
other
places,
lying
on
representing
officer.
E
As
a
member
of
the
Scottish
Parliament
cross-party
group,
on
vigilant
Pearman,
just
how
important
the
what
those
volunteers
do
as
too
many
people
I've
often
spoken
to
to
those
who
are
blind
or
partially
sighted,
and
they
describe
the
site
as
an
incredibly
poisonous.
A
is
an
incredibly
isolated
experience.
E
They
lose
the
ability
to
read
as
your
site
deteriorates,
which
can
contribute
enormous
ly
to
that
feeling
of
isolation.
As
your
visit
vision
worsens,
and
it
becomes
more
of
a
challenge
to
read
it's
more
difficult
to
keep
up-to-date
with
events
both
locally
and
nationally
the
sources
that
they
keep,
you
informed
of
events,
newspapers,
posters
and
flyers
become
more
and
more
inaccessible
until
they're
impossible.
To
use.
E
At
the
same
time
as
their
peer
group,
every
child
should
have
the
opportunity
to
develop
a
love
of
reading,
but
this
is
more
difficult
if
less
than
one
in
20
books
are
available
to
your
peers
that
are
available
to
you.
That's
why
the
what
taken
place
across
Scotland
to
tackle
the
isolation
of
sight
loss
that
are
displayed
is
so
important,
whether
that's
a
fantastic
contribution
of
borders
and
other
talking
books
and
bringing
the
news
to
local
communities
or
the
RNIB.
E
Talking
book
library,
which
provides
60,000
boots
and
accessible
formats
free
at
the
point
of
use,
the
importance
of
that,
what
will
grow
is
a
number
of
people
with
sight.
Loss
is
set
to
double
by
2030,
but
in
many
cases,
set
loss
isn't
always
inevitable.
Next
week,
as
national
eye
health
week,
st.
lost
charities
and
autumn
ologists
across
the
country
will
be
encouraging
everyone
to
book
an
eye
health
check,
a
check,
that's
been
free,
almost
a
decade
in
Scotland,
thanks
to
the
government
in
2006.
E
Those
checks
can
make
a
real
difference
with
sight,
loss,
preventable
and
50%
of
cases
if
it's
picked
up
quickly
through
these
a
checks
so
presenting
offs,
I'd
like
to
conclude
by
encouraging
everyone
to
make
sure
they
take
advantage
of
those
free
eye
checks
and
to
once
again
congratulate
and
thank
Borders
and
all
our
talk
in
newspapers
for
the
hugely
invaluable
service
they
provide
to
our
constituents
right
across
Scotland.
Thank
you.
F
You,
deputy
presiding
officer,
and
thank
you
also
to
my
conservative
colleagues,
all
Hamilton
for
bringing
this
motion
for
debate
this
afternoon,
can
I
also
welcome
the
team
from
borders
talking
newspaper
and
all
the
children
from
the
doubt
base
tea
primary
school.
It's
great
to
see
you
here
in
the
chamber.
F
I
would
like
to
extend
my
personal
congratulations
to
everyone
involved
in
borders,
talking
newspaper
and
especially
to
Matilda
Mitchell,
on
this
very
special
25th
anniversary,
the
paper
that
papers,
longevity
is
testament
to
the
volunteers,
unwavering
passion
for
and
commitment
to,
the
service
that
they
provide
to
start
off.
A
project
of
this
kind
is
a
challenge
in
itself,
but
to
have
never
missed
an
edition
in
25
years
to
have
stayed
the
course
in
the
face
of
all
the
challenges
that
life
throws
at
us:
illness,
inclement,
weather,
technical
difficulty
and
technological
developments
is
an
incredible
achievement.
F
Well
worth
celebrating
deputy
providing
officer.
I
do
not
know,
and
I
cannot
know
what
it
must
be
like
to
be
blind
or
visually
impaired.
But
I
am
well
aware,
from
my
years
of
Nursing,
that
adjusting
to
sight
loss
can
reduce
your
confidence,
leading
to
a
risk
of
isolation
of
being
afraid,
trapped
in
your
own
home,
a
feeling
excluded
closed
off
from
social
aspects
of
day-to-day
life
and
not
having
access
to
local
news
is
one
very
significant
aspect
of
this
social
isolation,
a
key
through
which
was
also
referenced
by
Rachel.
F
It's
far
more
than
just
missing
out
on
sitting
down
and
taking
in
the
news
of
the
day.
Blindness
and
visual
impairment
can
rob
a
person
of
their
engagement
in
what
an
involvement
with
the
community.
How
can
they
find
out
about
local
events
and
festivals?
How
can
they
stay
informed
of
the
practical
things
that
impact
our
everyday
life?
Things
are
simple
and
mundane
as
roadworks
or
changes
to
public
transport.
How
can
they
keep
their
finger
on
the
pulse
of
the
issues
that
matter
to
them?
I'm
sure
these
are
just
some
of
the
questions.
F
You've
all
come
such
a
long
way
in
25
years,
using
new
technology
to
replace
cassettes
and
stream.
Digital
content
worldwide
expanding
the
range
of
borders,
newspapers
available
to
your
listeners,
receiving
over
5,000
from
the
Big
Lottery
Fund,
and
recording
well
over
a
thousand
editions,
not
to
mention
winning
the
best
tape
in
Scotland
award.
But
we
cannot
and
we
will
not
understate
the
importance
of
funding
for
talking
newspapers.
It
is
becoming
more
and
more
difficult
for
small
voluntary
groups,
like
Borders
talking
newspapers,
to
survive
in
the
face
of
ever-increasing
costs.
F
It
is
my
sincere
hope
that
this
debate
raises
further
awareness
of
this
essential
service
and,
furthermore,
that
it
will
encourage
more
people
to
get
involved
in
backing
and
growing
talking
newspapers
throughout
Scotland
Matilda
and
everyone
at
borders.
Talking
newspapers,
I,
think
I
speak
for
all
your
listeners
when
I
say.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
For
this
vital
service,
you
provide
I,
wish
you
all
the
very
best
for
the
future
I.
C
A
G
You
very
much
presiding
officer
and
can
I
thank
Rachel
Hamilton
for
bringing
today's
debate
to
the
chamber
and
thank
the
other
members
for
sharing
their
experiences
of
borders.
Talking
newspapers
can
I
welcome
all
those
volunteers
also
to
the
gallery.
Perhaps
some
of
you
didn't
hear
Rachel's
welcome
at
the
beginning,
and
there
are
quite
a
crowd
of
you.
So
I
hope
you
have
a
grand
duty,
as
they
would
say,
can
I
also
welcomed
our
BT
primary
school
to
the
chamber
and
I
hope.
G
You
have
a
lovely
day
too,
and
it's
clear
from
the
remarks
how
much
the
local
services
like
borders,
talking
newspaper
and
talking
newspapers
across
Scotland,
are
appreciated
by
those
who
use
them
and
the
valuable
role
that
volunteers
play
in
delivering
them
and
Rachel
Hamilton
was
right
to
recognize
the
great
work
of
the
founder,
Matilda,
Mitchell
and
Wendy
Roth
and
others
who
are
involved
in
this
valuable
work.
I
understand,
presiding
officers
and
I.
G
Remember
it's
not
the
first
time
we've
had
debates,
members
debates
about
talking
newspapers
in
this
chamber,
I
think
Gil
Patterson
had
a
debate
about
his
local
newspaper.
The
banky
in
2011
and
Jim
Eadie
lead
led
a
similar
debate
in
2013,
but
it
does
highlight
they're,
really
valuable.
Work
of
local
newspapers
I
knew
that
newspaper
local
newspapers
remember
my
own
family,
sending
them
at
the
copies
abroad
to
other
people
but
I
hadn't
appreciated
and
that
in
talking
form
that
they
are
sent
worldwide
to
and
presiding
officer.
G
This
debate
gives
me
an
opportunity
to
highlight
the
government's
commitment
to
supporting
children
and
adults
with
sensory
loss
through
its
strategy.
He
see
here,
which
was
the
first
of
its
kind
in
the
UK,
with
its
focus
on
sight,
loss,
deafness
and
dual
sensory
loss
see
here
is
jointly
endorsed
by
Khosla
and
is
but
being
delivered
through
partnerships
of
statutory
and
third
sector
organisations.
G
Our
shared
vision
is
of
a
Scotland
where
people
can
access
the
services
and
support
they
need
and
that
there
is
equal
access
to
opportunities
together
with
partners.
We
will
continue
to
work
to
ensure
that
the
vision
in
see
here
is
realised
and
to
support
the
implementation
of
the
strategy.
We
allocated
two
million
of
funding
over
two
years
and
a
further
four
hundred
and
seventy
eight
thousand
this
financial
year
and
last
to
support
the
ongoing
delivery
of
local
and
national
priorities.
G
Since
see
here
was
introduced
in
2014,
we
have
been
working
with
local
areas
to
build
capacity
and
ensure
that
the
right
structures
are
in
place
for
delivery.
Local
sensory
leads
have
been
identified
and
are
working
in
partnership
to
drive
progress,
locally
support
to
deliver.
The
strategy
is
also
provided
through
the
National
Coordinator
for
by
the
Scottish
government
and
based
at
the
Health
Alliance,
which
works
in
close
collaboration
with
stakeholders
and
by
working
with
local
areas.
G
I
would
encourage
borders
at
talking
newspapers
to
to
get
involved
in
the
local
delivery
of
the
see,
hear
plan,
because
I
know
that
borders
are
taking
forward
the
national
strategy
to
and
delivering
it
in
the
area
of
the
borders
to
meet
the
local
needs.
We
also
collaborate
with
the
in
visual
impairment
network
for
children
and
young
people
to
improve
the
care
and
support
available
to
children
with
sight
loss
and
their
families.
G
G
So,
looking
ahead,
we
want
to
build
on
the
achievements
that
we
have
made
so
far
and
are
working
on
an
evaluation
to
see
that
what
progress
has
been
made,
but
very
much
key
and
part
of
this
is
the
work
done
by
volunteers
on
the
third
sector
like
borders.
Talking,
newspapers,
governments
and
and
local
agencies
cannot
do
it
all
on
our
own,
especially
as
we
have
an
ageing
workforce
and
the
work
done
by
the
volunteers
of
borders.
Newspapers
are
to
be
congratulated,
not
just
in
the
25th
year
but
every
year.
Thank
you
very
much
presiding
officer.