RNIB Partnership With Dolly Parton Announced
Did you all enjoy Dolly Parton rocking the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury last week? ell what you may not know is that the country singer and worldwide star has stepped in to do her bit for blind and partially sighted children in the UK.
“I’m excited that the 28,000 children who receive a book each month from the UK Imagination Library can now be joined by blind and partially sighted children thanks to the RNIB.”
The Royal Institute of Blind People (RNIB), whose work supports anyone affected by sight loss, has announced a partnership with As part of the partnership, the charity will produce six free audio and braille books every year for blind and partially sighted children in the UK.
“The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
Speaking at the Echo Arena Liverpool recently, Dolly marked the publication of the one-millionth book since her library program was launched in the UK. To mark her partnership with the RNIB, Dolly also presented the new book in braille to five-year-old Dylan Manifold, who has septo optic dysplasia.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was created to foster a love of reading among preschool children in her home county of East Tennessee. She wanted children to get excited about books again. Since its foundation in 1996, the program has been rolled out across the US, and eventually reached the UK in 2007! Since its launch, almost 45,000 children have benefited from receiving monthly books.
“It is great to be here in the UK to make this very special delivery to Dylan and his parents.”
Head of Digital and Reading Services at the RNIB, Clive Gardiner is delighted with the partnership, and that blind and partially sighted children in the UK will now have the same opportunities of escape and wonder in books as their peers. He said:
“Books open up a world of adventure and education for children and their families, and RNIB is committed to making sure children who are blind or partially sighted can enjoy the same opportunities as their friends and classmates.”
Clive Gardiner, Head of Digital and Reading Services, RNIB.
It’s great to see country icon Dolly Parton working 9 to 5 for the opportunities of blind and partially sighted children in the UK!
Good on you, Dolly!