Calibre Audio, the national audiobook charity, is encouraging members of the public to give double the joy of reading to those with sight loss or physical or cognitive conditions which prevent them from reading books. Between the 28th November and 5th December 2023, the charity will be offering the chance for people to make twice the difference through a donation which will then be doubled from its Big Give match funding pot.
Sue Canderton, Director of Philanthropy at Calibre Audio, said: “We support thousands of people every year like Kathie who features in our Big Give social media campaign. Kathie has age-related macular degeneration, and her sight loss is now so significant that reading is virtually impossible. As a keen reader, this has had a devastating impact on her life. The campaign focuses on how audiobooks have given her back the joy of reading and how important this is to thousands of people like her who live alone right across the UK.”
Kathie, an avid reader since her childhood, said: “The fact that I may not be able to read frightened me. Because I thought if I can’t read, that’s it. With Calibre, if my sight gets worse I know I can still listen to a book. Reading a book seems a very simple thing to do, but when your eyesight is failing, you can feel very bleak and even lonely at times. Having a good audiobook to read definitely lifts your spirits, especially at Christmas time.”
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is an annual event which partners charities with organisations prepared to become champions who, in combination with some of the charity’s own supporters, provide a match funding pot. Calibre Audio is very grateful to have support from The Reed Foundation as a champion and from private pledgers to provide £4,631.50 in match funding. The charity is now encouraging members of the public to make a donation to give back the joy of reading to its members, safe in the knowledge that the donation will be matched pound for pound through the initiative.
Sue Canderton added, “Christmas is traditionally a popular time for giving books as gifts and the Big Give Christmas Challenge offers the chance to do this through audiobooks for those who can’t read a printed book. For example, a donation of £7 will be doubled to £14 which will cover the cost of two month’s membership for a print-disabled person, allowing them to borrow multiple books, connecting them to the world and reducing loneliness and isolation. Can you help us make double the difference?”
Calibre Audio is encouraging the public to support its Big Give Christmas Challenge and give back the joy of reading to those who struggle with the printed word. The challenge begins at 12 noon on 28th November and between then and 12 noon on 5th November, all donations made on the Calibre page on the Big Give website will be doubled for as long as the match funding pot lasts.
For more information and to donate, please go to https://ca-li.org.uk/BigGive23.
Calibre Audio is a charity offering an audiobook lending service to adults and children in the UK who struggle to read print as a result of conditions such as visual impairment, dyslexia, autism, ADHD, stroke, brain injury or other physical or neurological conditions that prevent holding a book. Members can receive their audiobooks free on memory sticks through the post or they can stream and download them via the charity’s digital services for a heavily subsidised charge. Overseas members with print disabilities are also able to access the digital service for a small charge. Membership is free for under 18s and those in full time education.
National audiobook charity, Calibre Audio, is inviting members of the public to give the gift of reading this Christmas by supporting its Big Give Christmas Challenge. Between 28th November and 5th December, all donations made on the Calibre page on the Big Give website will be doubled from its match funding pot, meaning double the joy of reading for those with sight loss or physical or cognitive conditions which prevent them from reading books.
Sue Canderton, Director of Philanthropy at Calibre Audio, said: “We support thousands of people every year like Kathie who features in our Big Give social media campaign. Kathie has age-related macular degeneration, and her sight loss is now so significant that reading is virtually impossible. As a keen reader, this has had a devastating impact on her life. The campaign focuses on how audiobooks have given her back the joy of reading and how important this is to thousands of people like her who live alone right across the UK.”
The charity is grateful to have
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