BABIES and toddlers in some of Bradford’s most deprived areas will be taking delivery of their first books this week as part of a gifting scheme set up by Country Western legend Dolly Parton.

Each month the project called Better Start Imagine will send out a free book to children across its catchment area of Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton in the hope of inspiring young imaginations and boosting their literacy skills.

Experts at ten-year lottery funded programme Better Start Bradford (BSB) say babies and toddlers can benefit enormously from being read to and reading with their family.

The Imagine project is just one of 22 initiatives BSB is setting up to support families to give children the best possible start in life.

Families in the BSB area with a child born on or after 1 January 2016 can register to be part of the scheme at betterstartbradford.org.uk/imagine.

It is being delivered by BHT Early Education and Training as part of the international Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, set up by the singer who grew up in a household with no books.

It also builds on a similar Imagination Scheme delivered in the Canterbury estate area of Bradford.

Freddie Rodwell, who is three-months-old, is one of the babies already signed up to Better Start Imagine.

His mum, Shannon Cahill, age 22, said: “I can’t wait for Freddie to receive his first book. Before I had heard of the Better Start Imagine project, I would have never thought of reading to a baby and I didn’t realise how important reading will be for Freddie’s language development. I have even bought Freddie some books for Christmas and am really looking forward to snuggling up with him to read them together.”

Michaela Howell, BSB programme director, said: “It’s great to hear about the first few books being delivered to local families through Better Start Imagine, and their excitement about getting them. We’re engaging families in the Better Start Bradford area with new babies to encourage them to sign up to the scheme. We’re also appealing to families everywhere to bear books in mind in the run-up to the Christmas holidays – there are so many fun ways to engage children in book-related activities, and the holidays, especially during winter, are the perfect time. Books also make such wonderful and inspiring gifts for children of all ages.”

Rebecca Heald, language development programmes manager at BHT Early Education and Training, added: “We’re working hard to ensure all families in the area who have new babies are signed up to this great project. Previous evaluation suggests our scheme can make a big difference to children and families, so we’re looking forward to rolling it out as part of the Better Start Bradford programme.”

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