Providing Accessible Audio for blind and partially sighted people for over 50 years
We are the Playback Recording Service for the blind and visually impaired, which was established in 1976. Registered Scottish charity number is SC001189.
Providing Accessible Audio for blind and partially sighted people for over 50 years
We are the Playback Recording Service for the blind and visually impaired, which was established in 1976. Registered Scottish charity number is SC001189.
Our News & Popular Publications
We provide a free and reliable service to assist anyone. Our goal is to make our recordings as accessible as possible. You choose what you want to listen to, and you choose the format that works best for you.
Our flagship recording is our monthly Playback Magazine. It’s a wonderful collection of news, interviews, and features that we produce right here at our Glasgow studios. Playback magazine has been the heart of our service for many years and has been shared across the world.
We offer an audio recording service for organisations and people to enable them to provide their communications in an accessible format.
Publications we currently record
Our Story: A Community Build on Sound
Our charity has a long and proud history. It is a story of community, of innovation, and of the simple desire to help one another.
The idea for our service began back in 1958. The Glasgow Tape Recording Club decided to produce a magazine on reel to reel tapes for blind people in the area. It was a new idea, filled with local information and documentary items. It was a wonderful start, and it planted the seed for what Playback would become.
Our work has been recognised over the decades, and we are humbled by the support we have received. Peter Fraser, who was a driving force behind Playback for so many years, was awarded the MBE in 1994 for his incredible work. He also received the Grimshaw Award from the National Federation of the Blind. We are equally proud of our many volunteers, like Leonora Smart, who have been honoured for their dedicated service.
Listen in a way that suits you
We understand that everyone has a preferred way of listening. That is why we provide our recordings in several different formats. We want you to feel comfortable and in control of your listening experience.
Playback recorded material is available on:
Our physical recordings are sent directly to your home in special wallets. Thanks to the Articles for the Blind scheme from Royal Mail, postage is completely free. There is no charge for our service, and we never ask our listeners for a donation.
Support our work
Playback is funded entirely by donations, and our service simply could not exist without our team of around 30 volunteers.
We are incredibly grateful to every single person who has contributed to our work. Your support is what allows us to keep our service free for everyone who needs it.
Support our work
Playback is funded entirely by donations, and our service simply could not exist without our team of around 30 volunteers.
We are incredibly grateful to every single person who has contributed to our work. Your support is what allows us to keep our service free for everyone who needs it.