The Blind Baker, Penny Melville-Brown, a regular contributor to Talking News publications, started the idea of the Innovation Award. Penny kindly gifted TNF a beautifully handmade pewter cake and suggested it be awarded each year to a Talking News that develops outstanding new ways of making their recordings better. To find out more, visit The Blind Baker presents pewter fruitcake; how’s that for innovation?
What is the Innovation Award for?
- It is for making a real difference to your listeners and making their lives easier
- Celebrates new ways for listeners to hear printed information
- Shares new developments that work really well
- Recognises and values how volunteers make a big difference by doing things better.
There are three suggested development areas;
- Benefits for listeners / increasing listener numbers
- Enhanced audio content / quality
- How recordings are created / their delivery through technology developments
We value your volunteers and what they do for listeners!
Please apply to take part so we can share the great work they do for people who have difficulty accessing the printed word.
Further information will be made available through a Teams workshop.
For any queries and entries please contact david.beard@tnf.org.uk
Terms & Conditions
The closing date for entries is 18 September 2026 at midnight.
All entries will be anonymised before judging by the panel takes place.
The judges’ decisions are final.
A short presentation (no PowerPoint please), in audio or video format, describing what innovation has been devised and used shall be submitted as part of the TN’s entry by the closing date.
Numerical evidence / data showing how using your innovation made improvements must be provided. This information about the benefits and effects of using your innovation will be used as part of the judging process.
The Award will be presented at the TNF Conference in Winchester on 10 October 2026.
Three entries will be awarded a certificate of merit and a prize. If winning entrants are unable to attend in person a live link will be made available for the Award presentation.