Businesses urged to back library plan inspired by Dolly Parton

The project, which launches in September, is affiliated to country singer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which had the idea of sending children a free book through the post to foster a love of reading.

A similar scheme in Rotherham was the first to be set up in the UK.

Its success has inspired university lecturer and former journalist Jan Winter to run the scheme on Bradford’s Canterbury estate.

She said: “Our priority now is asking businesses to sponsor a group of children over three or more years, so this can really be a sustainable project which reaches every child in the Canterbury area of the city.

“The children should be able to build up their own library of quality books, which will help to foster a love of reading and to encourage children’s literacy to improve even before they start school.”

Evidence from the Rotherham Imagination Library shows the children involved achieve higher scores on communication skills as they enter school compared with youngsters who had not received the books.

Now businesses are being asked to sponsor books for 50 children for £1,200 a year, or £2,400 a year for 100 children.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Coun
Dale Smith has a pledged £1,000 from his mayoral appeal to get the scheme operating in the Canterbury area.

Canterbury Imagination Library has also received a £1,000 donation from the Yorkshire-based Scurrah Wainwright charity.

It takes its name from Henry Scurrah Wainwright, a Leeds chartered accountant and social reformer. He was instrumental in founding and building up the Leeds medical company Chas F Thackray Ltd, whose sale in 1990 led to the founding of the charity which is run by members of his family, including Guardian journalist Martin Wainwright.

The charity funds projects mainly in Yorkshire and the North of England as well as in southern Africa. It looks for innovative work in the field of social reform.

Canterbury Imagination Library has started a test registration of some families and a launch event at Canterbury Nursery School and Centre for Children and Families will take place from 1pm on Friday September 21.

Opinion: Page 13.