Bradford Chamber boss Garthwaite takes trustee role with Bradford literacy charity

He chose Canterbury Imagine as one of his charities of the year for the Chamber.

The charity currently funds free books which are delivered into the homes of about 1,000 Bradford children every month. It does this by affiliating to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and also helps to support the children’s centres and

families with literacy activities. The scheme is cost-effective, as it costs 25 pounds a year to fund 12 books to a child.

“Encouraging literacy skills among babies and young children means they are ready to start school with sufficient skills to enable them to achieve their potential,” he said.

“These children will become the young people who will be employed by Bradford businesses in years to come, and it is important they are supported to gain the education and skills they will need.”

Canterbury Imagine aims to help to improve literacy, emotional development, educational attainment and life chances by providing a free book through the post every month from birth until the child’s fifth birthday.

The children build up their own ‘library’ of quality books and works in the Canterbury area of Bradford, and around the Midland Road area of Manningham.

More than 500 children have now ‘graduated’ from the scheme – having received free books for the first five years of their lives.

The charity is also appealing for business sponsorship and also for people interested in books, such as book groups, to pledge to give £2 a month via the charity’s website at www.canterburyimagine.co.uk to sponsor a child’s reading.

More information and contact details are available on the website.

Founder Jan Winter said: “We are so delighted that Nick agreed to become a trustee. He has the skills and enthusiasm for literacy to help us as we continue to fund books and activities, and aim to expand when funding becomes available.

“The charity has been running since 2012 and is run by the trustees, who are all volunteers.

“The children registered with our schemes in Bradford are already developing a love of books and reading which will help them to be ready for school and pay dividends in later life.

“We are seeking more funding to ensure this can continue and expand in the district.”