Over 700 babies and toddlers with vision impairment will be able to access audio-tactile books, products and services designed by the Living Paintings charity specifically to meet their complex needs, thanks to a grant from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons.
Combining expertise of making literacy and learning accessible for children who are blind or visually impaired with the insight of an early year’s education specialist, Living Paintings will develop a coordinated and accessible support infrastructure along with products specifically designed for the complex needs of babies and toddlers who are blind or visually impaired.
The project aims at the following outcomes
The project focuses on children who are 0-4 and are blind or visually impaired across the UK, and their parents and carers, a group facing significant unmet need. Each day, around four families receive a diagnosis that their child is or will become blind, leaving many feeling worried about their child’s future. Early years support is particularly lacking, despite the crucial importance of this developmental stage.
The grant will fund the project in conjunction with VICTA (Visually Impaired Children TakingAction) Guide Dogs and the Bradbury Foundation.
Living Paintings is a national charity that creates audio tactile books and resources for children who are blind or visually impaired. It will develop, test and launch services and products that meet the urgent need for support of families of infants who are blind or visually impaired, bridging the gap from diagnosis to school to allow children to thrive.
The funding from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasons comes through the Freemasons’ Charity, which is supported by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Camilla Oldland, CEO at Living Paintings, said:
“We’re very grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons for their generous grant.
Following our in-depth research, we’ve found that families of recently diagnosed infants of blindness or visual impairment, desperately need consistent support which isn’t readily available. Thanks to the Freemasons we can create vital resources to support families at this incredibly challenging time. We will provide the UK-wide infrastructure for infants and their families to thrive.”
Jonathan Whitaker (Head of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons) recently visited the charity to see first-hand the excellent work they are doing.
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Living Paintings with their hugely important project boosting the life chances and health and wellbeing of children who are blind or visually impaired. The gap between diagnosis and the start of formal education is a very important developmental stage for these infants who will benefit enormously from the resources that Living Paintings are developing. “ – Jonathan Whitaker.
