COUNTY registration officers and library staff have teamed up with the Bookstart Gifting Programme, offering a free Bookstart baby pack to every newborn baby registered in Worcestershire.
Run by BookTrust, the programme is part of a universal gifting project in England and Wales.
Every baby registered with Worcestershire Registration Services will be gifted a free pack, which contains books and resources designed to support and encourage families to read with their children as early as possible.
The pack will also include information on library events and activities available to parents of new babies and how to sign up for free library membership.
Coun Marcus Hart, cabinet member for communities said: “Learning to read is a vital step in children’s speech and development. The Bookstart Baby programme emphasises the importance of storytelling and engaging children with books from an early age.
“I would encourage parents and carers to start their child on a lifelong journey with reading.”
Each pack contains two engaging and age-appropriate board books, carefully chosen by an independent panel of experts, such as health visitors and librarians.
Parents and carers will be given an information pack on the benefits of sharing stories with babies from an early age.
For more information on the Bookstart Gifting Programme, please visit their website, @BookTrust on Twitter and Instagram, or their Facebook page: facebook.com/BookTrust.
