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World Gratitude Day: what we’re grateful for at Living Paintings
21st September 2025
September 21 marks World Gratitude Day, a day in which we stop to give thanks for the positive things in our lives. So, at Living Paintings, we spoke with our wonderful team to find out what it is about their work that brings them gratitude.
Our staff
Sarah, Office Manager, said:
“I’m grateful for working with a wonderfully friendly and supportive team who genuinely cares for each other, in addition of course, to the work it does in providing incredible books for the blind and visually impaired.”
Liz, Publishing Manager, said:
“I am grateful that working as a team, we are able to produce an array of books for visually impaired children to enjoy from the kind donations that we receive and the amazing support we get from our volunteers.”
Sharon, Publishing Officer, said:
“I’m very grateful for the chance to work at Living Paintings, creating and editing scripts and descriptions that help blind and visually impaired children enjoy books and stories. Being able to bring images and scenes to life through words is incredibly rewarding.”
Stephanie, Fundraising Coordinator, said:
“I’m grateful to work for an amazing charity that enables families of blind and visually impaired children, all over the UK, to enjoy bedtime stories together.”
Toby, Communications Assistant, said:
“I’m grateful to work for an organisation that makes such an impact in the lives of its beneficiaries. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about how our books have helped blind and visually impaired children, and to be able to share these stories every day is an absolute joy.”
Carolyn, Library Administrator, said:
“I’m grateful that we’re a bridge to a world of stories and learning. We make it possible for a child who is visually impaired or blind to experience a picture book not just through words, but through touch and imagination.”
Pippa, Membership Coordinator, said:
“I’m grateful that I get to know our library member and support them so they can get the most of the fabulous free service that we offer.
“I also get so much joy from working with our wonderful team of 20+ library volunteers – they are so supporting of the work we do and are great fun to be around – they are integral to the service we provide. We couldn’t do it without them and I’m hugely grateful to each and every one of them.”
Our volunteers
But it’s not just our office staff that keep Living Paintings going; it’s also our remarkable team of volunteers. They put their heart into all they do to bring the magic world of picture books and learning to life for blind and visually impaired children.
Here’s why they’re grateful.
“I’m grateful to have the time to come here and the privilege to paint these lovely tactile images that will enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired children – who doesn’t love a good story book?”Mim Painter
“I’m grateful to get to spend time with like-minded people painting these pictures to help blind children read books. It’s a lovely way to spend a morning.”Rowan Painter
“I enjoy being part of a team of enthusiastic volunteers and it’s great to know that, because of what we do, blind children will be able to experience the joy of reading.”Avril Production
Our members
Of course, we wouldn’t be anything without our members; our wonderful community of blind and visually impaired children and their families, friends and teachers who enjoy our Touch to See books on a regular basis. We are incredibly grateful for them all.
Here’s what they had to say.
“For us as a family, Living Paintings has helped create special moments when my partner’s daughter is with us, where we can all sit together and take part in the same activity. She is able to read some of the braille and this gives her an enormous sense of pride. It gives her a lot of satisfaction to listen to the stories and to be able to pick out the raised images. As she is 17, she likes a lot of different subjects and there is always something new for us to try. It has really helped me to bond with her.”
“Living Paintings brings a sense of normality and a sense of ease to our lives. The books are delivered to you and are available for use straight from the box. We are able to enjoy reading together, in the same way as a fully sighted child. We use the audio descriptions to listen to at bed time and the intonation, pitch and expression of the voiceovers has really helped our son to understand how to use language. His vocabulary has been helped hugely by the books.”
“Our student would not engage with books before we joined the Living Paintings Library. They have given her an interest in books. Feeling the Braille in the books has encouraged her to want to read Braille and as a result she has now nearly finished learning contracted Braille. She is still reluctant to read any other books apart from the ones from Living Paintings as she loves the images, the Braille overlays, and audio.”
What are you grateful for this World Gratitude Day?