Welcome to Talking N-Vision
What is Talking N-Vision?
Talking N-Vision is N-Vision’s free talking newspaper and information service for people living with sight loss across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Produced by volunteers and staff, it provides local and national news, sports reports, community information, charity updates, event listings, quizzes, recipes, and other features in an accessible audio format. The service is available on USB memory sticks, online, through Spotify and YouTube, and via smart speakers such as Alexa.
In October 2025, Talking N-Vision was honoured with the Penny Melville-Brown Award for Innovation from the Talking News Federation. The award recognised our commitment to finding new and innovative ways to record, produce and deliver our talking newspaper service, helping us make our content more accessible and available to our clients through a wider range of formats and platforms.
Talking N-Vision helps people stay informed, connected to their local community, and engaged with the world around them, especially if reading printed newspapers or information has become difficult due to sight loss.
The service continues to evolve, embracing new technology and new ways of delivering accessible information, while maintaining the friendly, personal approach that has always been at the heart of the talking newspaper.
HOW TO ACCESS TALKING N-VISION
Weekly post service
Some people prefer to use the free postal service we offer. You get a small pen drive in the post each week, which can be plugged into various devices, such as a speaker with a USB port or a computer/laptop. All we ask is that when you have finished with it, just simply post it back to us in the same padded envelope, free of charge, so that we can continue sending out new editions each week.
Online
You could use your mobile phone or laptop to access Talking N-Vision via our website, or our YouTube Channel. If you subscribe to our YouTube channel (which is free) you are notified when new content goes live.
A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO LISTEN TO TALKING N-VISION ON ALEXA
- If you don’t have an Amazon account you need one to operate an Alexa device. You also need a device called an ‘Echo’ and the Alexa app.
- With the device plugged in and set up already, you say “Alexa, Open Talking N-Vision” pronounced “envision”.
- The device should respond with “Opening Talking N-Vision” and you can then ask “Alexa list publications” so you can choose what to listen to (for example, “Alexa play from Blackpool Gazette”).
You could also say “Play all” and it will read out all the content until you ask it to “Alexa Stop” or “Alexa Next” or “Alexa Previous”.
If it is your first time using it, you MAY have to do the following:
- Open the Alexa software/app on your mobile or laptop.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom of the screen
- Select Skills & Games from the options (it may involve swiping left).
- Use the search bar to look for “Talking NVision”. When that appears, tap it.
- Tap the “enable” button or it may say “launch”.
- Try asking your device to “Open Talking N-Vision” again. This should work.
You should only have to do steps 3 to 8 the first time you use your device.
Special features:
If you have Talking N-Vision open, you can say “list recipes” then chose the one you want such as “read recipe for chocolate chip cookies”.
When you have Talking N-Vision open, you can also say “list eye conditions” and then select the one you are interested in.
Would you like to know more about N-Vision’s services? Once Talking N-Vision is open, ask “tell me about N-Vision”.
If you want a short cut, just ask Alexa to go straight to your favourite feature, such as “Alexa, ask Talking N-Vision to open the Blackpool Gazette”.
Help
One of the great things about Alexa devices is if you say “Help” at anytime you will be given commands to use. Or contact us for assistance in making the most of Talking N-Vision!
Exiting Talking N-Vision
When you are done, simple say “Alexa Stop” or “Alexa Exit”.
If you would like to know more about the benefits of Alexa devices for people with sight loss, then please get in touch with us for details of our free training courses, and download a handy “How to Use an Alexa Device” guide here.
WHAT CONTENT CAN YOU ENJOY ON TALKING N-VISION?
"Far better and easier than struggling with a newspaper."
"Best of all are the friendly voices which brighten my day."
This constantly updating library of spoken word articles and news pieces includes a lot of great content – local, regional and national.
Browse through to find:
- Blackpool Gazette
- Lytham St Annes Express
- Fleetwood Weekly News
- Weekend Papers – articles taken from various national newspapers
- Sport – from the Blackpool Gazette
- Community News – such as hours of darkness, high tide times, winning national lottery numbers for the last 2 draws, obituaries, stories from our Facebook page and any other relevant stories.
- Activities and Events – what’s happening at N-Vision
- Quiz – 10 general knowledge question
- Poetry
- Recipes
- TV and Radio Guide – provided by Wharfedale Talking news via TNF soundings.
- BBC InTouch – Weekly articles from BBC radio 4 for blind and visually impaired people.
- TNF Soundings – Articles from the Talking news federation.
- Comedy Special – A re -run of an old radio classic comedy program.
- Strange but true – news stories that seem a bit funny/quirky designed to make you smile.
Magazines – monthly (a different one each week)
- Saga Magazine.
- Lancashire Life.
- Travel Magazine – Articles from popular travel magazines.
- Which Consumer Magazine.
The Living Confidently with Sight Loss Podcast from N-Vision, hosted by Mike, is created to inform, inspire, and empower people living with sight loss or visual impairment.
Each episode explores the everyday challenges and opportunities that come with living independently, offering practical advice, honest conversations, and real-life stories from people who understand the journey. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, have been living with sight loss for many years, or are supporting a family member or friend, this podcast is here to remind you that sight loss doesn’t define who you are or what you can achieve.
From building confidence and maintaining independence to using accessible technology, travelling, cooking, staying safe from scams, and looking after your wellbeing, every episode is designed to provide encouragement, useful tips, and reassurance that you’re not alone.
Along the way, you’ll also hear inspiring stories from members of the N-Vision community who have embraced new experiences, overcome challenges, and continued to enjoy life with confidence. Their experiences show that while sight loss may change how we do things, it doesn’t stop us living fulfilling, active, and meaningful lives.
Hosted in a friendly, conversational style, Living Confidently with Sight Loss is more than just a podcast—it’s a community where listeners can learn, share experiences, and gain the confidence to take the next step, whatever that may be.
Whether you’re looking for practical advice, emotional support, inspiration, or simply a reassuring voice that understands, this podcast is for you.
Because living confidently with sight loss isn’t about doing everything alone—it’s about finding new ways to live the life you want, with confidence, independence, and hope.
It is a local newspaper of magazine recorded every week in our studio using the latest digital recording equipment.
Over 100 volunteers, split into groups, prepare and record extracts from all the local papers and many popular magazines onto DAPs (Digital Audio Plugs). These are sent out weekly to hundreds of local service users to listen to in the comfort of their home.
Each DAP, containing around 8 hours of listening, consists of a selection of all the local newspapers and many popular magazines including but not limited to:
- Lancashire Life
- Best of British
- Radio Times
- Which Consumer
- Health and Wellbeing
The Talking Newspaper service is available through N-Vision for blind and visually impaired people living in the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre area.
We may also consider other individuals with specific needs who would benefit from a Talking Newspaper.
Our weekly service is currently free, however there is an initial set up fee.
We give each listener a special digital speaker and send a newly recorded DAP every week. The return postage is free.
- Searchlight – Magazine and information issues
- Blackpool Gazette – News articles from the Blackpool area
- Lytham St Annes Express – News articles from the Fylde area
- Fleetwood Weekly News – News articles from the Wyre area
- Weekend Papers – News from several weekend papers
- The Week – Weekly news from home and abroad
- Sport Report – Covering all aspects of sport throughout the week
- Lancashire Life – Articles from the popular county magazine
- Best of British – A look back on British traditions and events
- Lancashire Magazine – Published every 2 months looking at local issues
- Short Stories – Brief, but interesting stories that last no longer than 20 minutes
- Ladies’ Choice – Covering a whole range of ladies issues
- History/lifestyle – Published every 2 months looking at the past and present issues
- Women’s Magazine – Another popular ladies’ magazine
- Which Consumer Magazine – The consumer magazine giving you tips on products
- Travel Magazine – Articles from popular travel magazines
- Quiz – Weekly quiz with answers provided towards the end of the programme
- Audiobook – Weekly reading from a selected book either fiction or non-fiction
- Society News – Weekly updates regarding events and social clubs within the charity
- Info sound – Updated news for blind and visually impaired people
- BBC InTouch – Weekly articles from BBC radio 4 for blind and visually impaired people
Need Help? Call: 01253 362696
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
