Joshua Aitken, North East and Cumbria, and Steph Finnon, BBC Radio Cumbria, reported on Dolly Parton’s free book scheme. Foster carers like Barbara Hubbard from Berwick, Northumberland, praised the scheme, saying it was 'just amazing.' She described receiving monthly books for foster children, which helped with literacy and speech development, even for children with special needs. The Imagination Library, established by Dolly Parton in 1995 in Tennessee, was launched in the UK in 2007. It provides free books monthly to children under five, with over 300 million books gifted worldwide. In the UK alone, over seven million books have been donated. The scheme is now distributed by Northumberland County Council and Westmorland and Furness Virtual School in Cumbria. Angela Morrison, a foster carer, noted how the books advanced children’s speech and reading skills. Social worker Leigh Finlay highlighted the transformational impact on children in care, who often lack access to books. The initiative ensures children’s books accompany them as they transition from foster care to adoption or home.
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