FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Living Paintings to feature on BBC Radio 4 charity appeal this Sunday 5th July 2026.

National charity’s audio-tactile books are “changing lives” for blind children, says father in moving appeal. Living Paintings, the national charity that creates audio-tactile books for blind and visually impaired children, will feature on the BBC Radio 4 Appeal this Sunday 5th July at 7.54am and 9.27pm (also available afterwards on BBC Sounds).

The appeal will be read by David Hall, a father whose son Monty is severely visually impaired. In it, David talks about how Living Paintings’ books, which combine raised, tactile illustrations with rich audio description, transformed something many families take for granted: the simple ritual of a bedtime story.

Living Paintings creates and lends audio-tactile books entirely free of charge through a postal library service, reaching blind and visually impaired children across the UK. With over 25,000 children in the UK living with vision impairment, the vast majority of mainstream children’s books remain inaccessible to them, a gap Living Paintings has worked for decades to close.

Funds raised through Sunday’s appeal, which will be repeated on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 9th July, will help Living Paintings keep its library service free, create new books and reach more families like David and Monty’s.

Camilla Oldland, CEO of Living Paintings said: “David’s words moved every one of us at Living Paintings, because they capture exactly why we exist. A bedtime story should never be out of reach for any child. We’re so grateful to David for sharing something so personal, and we hope his story inspires people across the country to listen, and to give what they can, so that more families like his can experience the simple joy of reading together.”

Listeners are encouraged to tune in to BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 5th July, and to donate at livingpaintings.org/radio4 to support Living Paintings work.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors: Living Paintings is a UK charity providing audio-tactile books to blind and visually impaired children through a free postal library.

The BBC Radio 4 Appeal will air on Sunday 5th July at 07.54 and 21.25, and again on Thursday 9th July at 15.27. It is also available afterwards on BBC Sounds

For more information contact the Media team at Living Paintings.

Tel: 01635 299771 ext 205

livingpaintings.org

Instagram – @livingpaintingscharity