BCP and Dorset Libraries provide a free delivery of books and talking books from each of their libraries to those who find it difficult to access the library themselves; it can be delivered short or long term, and is available to carers. Books are chosen individually for each person, and delivered every 3 or 4 weeks by a Royal Voluntary Service volunteer, providing not only a regular supply of new reading materials, but also a much looked forward to visit.
We have strong teams of volunteers in both Christchurch and Highcliffe Libraries, and we would welcome new referrals to our service.
The Old School House 49 High West Street Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UT
The Talking News Federation (TNF) helps over 300 local Talking Newspapers to deliver local news and information in audio to visually impaired and print disabled people.
Lots of information that others take for granted is not available to people with sight problems. Even Braille readers may not be able to access local news and events. Talking Newspapers (TNs) will let you know what’s happening on your own doorstep. Yes, you can always access national news by switching on your radio or television – but you can’t always find enough local news.
We know that local news is important to you and that, without it, you can feel a bit out of touch.
We’re a national charity that wants to bring about a Reading Revolution, so that everyone can experience and enjoy great literature, which we believe is a tool for helping humans survive and live well.
Through a growing movement of 1,000 volunteers and partners, we bring thousands of people together each week to share and discuss great novels, short stories and poems. We call this Shared Reading.
We read with schools, families and looked-after-children, adults in community spaces, people in care homes, people with physical and mental health conditions, those coping with or recovering from addiction, and people in the criminal justice system.
Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading.
Reading Well books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers.
Christchurch Library is an ideal environment in which you can read a book or two, read the newspapers, study, use the computers, join one of our free groups, meet new friends or simply relax.
Offer a range of community activities such as:
The Curly Hair Project is an organisation that helps people on the autistic spectrum and the people around them, founded by autistic author Alis Rowe. We use cool things like animated films, comic strips and diagrams to make our work interesting and easy to understand.
Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park Dorset BH16 6FA
We provide a fortnightly local talking newspaper for the blind and partially sighted over an area from Christchurch to Swanage and North to Blandford, Wimborne and Ringwood.
Listeners can receive our paper on cassette tape, CD, memory stick, and on-line from our website or via Alexa. Whatever the form, it is completely free to listeners, there are not even any postal charges because of The Royal Mail’s Articles for the Blind Service.
We read news from The Bournemouth Echo, with sport and what’s on. We also have a serendipity or lucky dip section and a longer magazine article, often courtesy of Dorset Life.