The Talking Newspaper Federation Committee has a maximum of 9 trustees. A further 3 trustees can be co-opted for specific tasks. Both elected and co-opted members must be active within a local Talking Newspaper, or connected to an organisation that specialises in the production of audio text, or be an Individual Associate Member – all of whom must be members of the Federation. Each member, once their election as a trustee is ratified at an AGM, serves a 3 year term. After 3 years, they may stand for re-election for another 3 year term if they wish to do so.
Amanda Reed – Chair
Amanda’s relationship with Visual Impairment started at Walsall Society for the Blind at 15 years old, here she went on her first work placement from school. After leaving College she went on to work for SENSE a National Charity working with Deaf Blind adults, followed by joining the NHS as a Care Manager. She returned to the Walsall Society in January 2006 as the Chief Executive Officer. Over the past 13 years Amanda has made changes in the Society operations, ensuring that it is fit for the future. She Chairs the Walsall Talking Newspaper Committee and has been part of the team that has challenged the original format of their Talking Newspaper and supported as it went digital then extended to a magazine service also. She has served on the TNF committee since November 2012. She is currently the Chairman for TNF current supports the committee with strategy.
Heather Bolton – Secretary
Heather trained as a journalist on newspapers and worked as a reporter, sub editor and editor for more than a decade. After leaving journalism to study for a Master’s degree, she moved to work in senior in-house communications roles and then as a Director for a number of high profile public sector organisations, helping them communicate effectively with the public, stakeholders and Government Ministers. She was a volunteer at Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne Talking Newspaper until moving out of the area in 2020.
Richard Black – Hon Treasurer
Richard worked in many areas of a major bank for 24 years followed by 12 years with the National Lottery Community Fund. When a reorganisation of the Fund relocated his job to Newcastle upon Tyne in 2007 he left the Fund and worked as a charity consultant until 2015. He is Treasurer of Chelmsford Talking Newspaper and one of their Technical Officers. Since 2014, Richard has been the Treasurer for the Talking News Federation and of three other local charities.
Paul Ramsden – Strategy
Paul has combined a career in the oil industry, focusing on technical, economic and recycling areas, with longstanding involvement as a volunteer in the charitable sector. Initially with Relate, as a counsellor before moving on to become Chair of Relate in Cheshire and Merseyside and then a member of the national Relate Board with responsibility for governance matters. As Chair of Stockport Talking News for the past seven years, he just caught the end of the tape cassette era and then more recently oversaw the move from CD’s to Memory Sticks. Paul found this particularly enjoyable as it provided an opportunity to visit many TN listeners in their homes and gain a greater insight into the personal challenges faced by visually impaired, and often older, members of the local community.
June D M Little – Trustee
I retired as an HR Consultant owning my own company specialising in mergers and acquisitions. I have held various positions including HR Director, Programme Director and Lead Consultant on major change programmes. Most of my experience has been in the financial sector but I have also worked in the Utilities and IT world. I have been a school governor for eight years in both Primary and Senior schools and worked with the Local Authority in schools that have been in ‘Special Measures’.
I joined The Cotswold Listener as Administration Manager in October 2018, becoming Chair of Trustees in June 2020, a position I currently hold.
I was elected as a Talking News Federation Trustee in September 2022 with responsibility for recruitment of Trustees.