Celebrating 30 years of
Living Paintings
To celebrate this milestone, we've planned a whole summer of fun across three events. From gin tasting to running laps around Wasing Park, there's something for everyone.
Read on to find out how you can get involved
This Summer
It is our 30th anniversary year and we’re proud of all that Living Paintings has achieved for blind and partially sighted children, young people and adults.
We’ve decided that this summer should be one of celebrtion, so have three fun and exciting events planned. We kick things off in June with a gin bar that has a very special Living Paintings twist. Later in the month we’ll be at Wasing Park with the Endure24 team and last but not least, in July the Cromwell Singers are supporting us with a magnificent midsummer concert.
Why we need your help…
"Tots used to love reading before she lost her sight, and I thought her love of reading had gone. Living Paintings has given that back to her." Kali, Tot's mum
Tayen, aged 5, (known to everyone as Tots) lost her sight at 22 months old as a result of tumours on her optic nerves, caused by the condition neurofibromatosis or NF1.
Reading had been central to our children’s lives from very early on – Tots has 3 big, loving brothers. But for a long time, through illness, hospitalisation and then total blindness, Tots was simply too unwell to even enjoy any kind of book.
However, thanks to Living Paintings Tots has genuinely re-discovered her love of books. She often chats back at the audio description and talks about her own feelings in response to the image she’s reading with her fingers. It’s absolutely beautiful to watch Lucas, 8, reading to Tots, whilst she feels the pictures and asks him about the story and the illustrations.
Living Paintings need to raise £50,000 to create more of the accessible books that my daughter loves. Please donate to give Tots more stories to read, characters to feel and magical adventures to go on – just like with the Gruffalo! Thank you.
#TootForTayen if you spot the Gruffalo on Living Paintings’ lorry!
The Botanics Lounge
A fusion of gin and live music!
On June 1st, for one night only we are transforming the Fieldgate Centre, Kingsclere into a gin bar like no other. With a little help from The43Club, you’ll discover an entirely new way to enjoy your G&T, using touch, sight and sound.
The evening will be in full swing with live music from Emma Lawrence & Fully Funked, as well as opportunities to win amazing prizes. You may start to get a little peckish after all that dancing, but no fear! Freshly made wood-fired pizzas will be available throughout the evening.
Tickets are £20 and remember to dress your best.
Celebrities Support Living Paintings
Midsummer Music
Load up our truck stop gallery with your photos.
Have you spotted the Gruffalo on our lorry, on its journey around the UK and Europe?
Do you use our Touch to See books?
Send us your photos. Tweet us @LivingPaintings #TootForTayen or tag us in Instagram.
How Living Paintings Changes Lives
Cameron's Story
"Cameron’s big sister Morgan loves to read to him and guide his hand through the books. It’s so lovely to watch them enjoy something together and Living Paintings’ library service certainly helps promote interaction between them." Parent
Isobel's Story
"Finding Living Paintings has been a complete revelation for myself and Isobel. It gives her vital access to free books, with clear images and fantastic, engaging audio descriptions, which can support her learning at school. The fun books, which are arguably more important, increase her ever growing love of reading!" Parent
Nikhil's Story
"Inspired by your Touch to See book about Weather, Nikhil made his own four seasons picture and was able to describe what was happening in each drawing. As well as benefiting Nikhil, our only visually impaired pupil, your tactile books are a great resource for his classmates to share with him. The sighted children enjoy talking about the pictures with Nikhil, so it helps his interaction with his peers. What a wonderful free resource! We are so thankful for this!" Teacher
Ted's Story
We also change the lives of blind and partially sighted young people and adults at home, in school and in the community.
Stats Speak Volumes
Bringing pictures to life!
Listen to our famous volunteers describe best-loved picture book characters for blind children.
Lauren Laverne describes The Gruffalo
David Walliams describes The Slightly Annoying Elephant
Hugh Bonneville describes Lost and Found
What We Do
We bring the visual world to life and share it with people with sight loss. We are the only charity in the UK who design, create and publish tactile and audio books for blind and partially sighted people of all ages. We call them Touch to See books and distribute them throughout the UK via our free, postal library.
Our Free Library
Our library of Touch to See books caters for all ages and we’ve got a wide range of subjects including The Gruffalo, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Wallace and Gromit, The International Space Station and much more. Our unique books provide relaxation and reading for pleasure, support education and lifelong learning, enhance lifestyle and inspire leisure interests.
Stay In Touch
We’d like to stay in touch with you. Enter your email to sign up to our newsletter and to receive other information about what we do and how you can support us.
Contact Us
- +44 (0) 1635 299 771
- Unit 8, Kingsclere Park, Kingsclere, Newbury, Berks, RG20 4SW
- info@livingpaintings.org