A SMALL book-gifting and literacy charity in Bradford is expanding to offer free books for all babies born in Manningham.
Canterbury Imagine has already funded more than 80,000 free books to under-5s living around the Canterbury and Midland Road Nursery Schools and children’s centres in the past decade.
The registered charity celebrated its 10th anniversary with parties at the schools and announced the new scheme, Imagine Bigger, to provide a free book every month to babies born from 2022 in the entire Manningham ward of Bradford.
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The charity received funding from Bradford-based Sovereign Healthcare Charitable Trust and Localgiving and Postcode Neighbourhood Trust, a grant-giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Children were joined at the Midland Road Nursery School birthday parties by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Martin Love, and Bradford City AFC goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
Thanks to the charity, babies receive an age-appropriate book at home through the post, addressed to the child, every month from birth until their fifth birthday. They build up their own ‘library’ of up to 60 books in a scheme which has been praised by parents and Early Years experts.
Canterbury Imagine affiliates to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which also gifted a free book to every child at the nursery schools on the day of their party to mark the ten-year anniversary.
Founder and organiser Jan Winter said: “We aim to help early literacy and life chances in Bradford by providing a free book every month to children registered with the scheme.
“The first 1,001 days of a child’s life are the most important in human development. Sharing books with young children has a massive impact. It supports children to learn to read, helps them learn to speak, communicate and be creative, and sharing books also helps build family wellbeing.”
To check whether your baby is eligible, visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/ or www.canterburyimagine.co.uk to check your postcode and register. Email canterburyimagine@btinternet.com with any queries.
Jan added: “We also hope to recruit some parent Champions to promote the scheme in their neighbourhoods. This kind of input is vital, and these are families who often struggle to access services and this has been made worse during the Covid-19 crisis.”
Each book costs just over £2, so £25 funds books for a year for one child, and potential sponsors are asked to visit the website.
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