Children who are unwell, either at home or in hospital, may have difficulty reading printed books and will therefore miss out on all the enjoyment, comfort and relaxation that a great story can bring. If your child, for any reason is finding it difficult to read in the usual way, Listening Books can help! The charity provides an audiobook lending service for anyone who finds reading or holding books difficult, as the result of an illness, physical or learning disability, mental health condition, or learning difficulty. They believe that books should be accessible to everyone.
Their collection has over 10,000 fiction and non-fiction titles, including titles from bestselling authors such as: J. K. Rowling, David Walliams, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeff Kinney, Philip Pullman, Malorie Blackman, and many more. They also have a great range of educational audiobooks, including set texts and revision guides supporting the national curriculum from KS2 to A Level and books with information about mental and emotional health. Many of their educational titles are recorded in their professional digital studios and aren’t available anywhere else!
Members can borrow titles from Listening Books in three easily accessible ways: streamed online via a laptop, computer, mobile phone, or tablet from their website or app, downloaded to a portable device like a mobile phone or tablet to listen to offline or on the go, or sent directly through the post on MP3 CD with no postage costs or late fees.
Listening Books currently have free memberships available, for anyone who would like to join, but would find it difficult to cover their usual membership fees of between £20 and £45 per year. They don’t ask for any financial proof, just a self-declaration that the fees would be a barrier to joining. For more information, visit: www.listening-books.org.uk/free-memberships
