DEREHAM AUDIO BOOK CLUB FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PEOPLE SEEKING NEW MEMBERS

Visually-impaired people in and around Dereham are being urged not to miss out on the joy of books – by taking part in a monthly Audio Book Club which takes place at the town’s library.

Run by the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB), the monthly book club is one of eight across Norfolk, with members meeting to discuss the chosen book of the month.  Members receive the audio book on either a CD or memory stick.

Now the Dereham group is looking for more members from visually-impaired people in the area.

“With the onset of sight loss, many people find it difficult to enjoy the pleasures of reading,” said Mark Smith, leisure activities co-ordinator at the NNAB, and who is himself blind.  “This is where audio books come into play, and they are a vital means of enjoying a favourite book.

“We read a huge variety of books – they are certainly not all high brow or literary classics!  The titles are generally the kind of books that most enthusiastic readers might find on their shelves.  Our meetings are informal and friendly, we try to make them fun.”

The Dereham group is led by Joyce Ellis, who has been an NNAB volunteer for six years.  She said, “I have always been concerned about going blind, so I felt I wanted to do something to help.  The club means that members get to listen to books they wouldn’t otherwise have done, as well as enjoying the social interaction which is part of any book club..”

Club member Vanessa Gathercole, from Swaffham, has been coming to the group since it started six years ago.  “Coming to the club has made me enjoy all sorts of books I would never have read, and find new authors I didn’t know I would like.  I had always enjoyed reading, but as my sight deteriorated, I’d just stopped reading them.

“Just as important, it’s very sociable.  We don’t just chat about the books, it’s a great way to get out and meet other people.”

The Dereham Audio Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of every month from 10.30am to 12pm in the town’s library.  Attendance and the loan of the audio books is free for members, thanks to Norfolk County Council funding.

Anyone interested in taking part – no matter the extent of their sight loss – can contact Mark Smith at the NNAB on 01603 629558 or via email at marksmith@nnab.org.uk.