Canterbury Imagine volunteers attend Buckingham Palace garden party

Jan Winter, of Canterbury Imagine, was selected for the honour after setting up the charity 12 years ago. She attended the prestigious event with fellow trustee Bev George. They enjoyed the beautiful palace gardens and afternoon tea and saw members of the Royal family, including Prince William.

Jan Winter and Bev George at Buckingham Palace (Image: Jan Winter)

So far, Canterbury Imagine has funded more than 80,000 free books for children in the Canterbury/Little Horton and Midland Road/Manningham areas of the city. In the Canterbury area, a total of 1,486 children have received free books delivered to their homes every month, thanks to the charity. And in the Midland Road and Manningham areas, 782 children have had the books.

Last year Jan received a Government Points of Light award - a cross-party supported programme to highlight the positive change people are making in their communities and inspire others to volunteer. She received a personal letter from then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, thanking her for her work, and an announcement about the award was published at pointsoflight.gov.uk/

Canterbury Imagine aims to help early literacy and life chances in Bradford by providing a free book every month to children in the two areas currently funded by the charity. They receive an age-appropriate book through the post, addressed to the child, every month from birth until their fifth birthday. The idea is for them to build up their own ‘library’ of up to 60 books, achieved by affiliating to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Canterbury Imagine is run by volunteers, who are the trustees, with key support from the two nursery schools and children’s centres in the areas. It also supports literacy activities, such as an active partnership with Bradford Literature Festival, which means children’s authors visit the nursery schools.

Jan said: “Sharing books with babies and young children has so many benefits and we believe literacy is a way out of poverty. To be invited to this special event showed us the impact of the work we are doing in funding these books.

“Encouraging children’s love of books and reading in their earliest years will pay dividends for their future education, employment and life skills.”

Since Canterbury Imagine began, imagination library book-gifting schemes have been set up by other organisations in the district, most recently in Keighley. Each book costs just over £2, so £25 funds 12 books for a year for one child. Canterbury Imagine continues to apply for grants, link with businesses, run small fundraising events and encourage donations.

* Visit canterburyimagine.co.uk