Question: What do celebrities Alison Steadman, Jon Richardson, Ralf Little, Mathew Baynton and Dr Hilary Jones have in common?
Answer: They've added their voices to support the Bedtime Donations campaign from The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC).
Alongside many not-quite-so-well-known voices, they've each recorded themselves reading their favourite children's story as part of the charity's campaign to make audiobooks more accessible for blind and partially sighted children.
Tackling inequality, promoting inclusivity
Listening to bedtime stories is crucial for a child's development, improving language skills, strengthening emotional bonds, and helping them process their day.
While sighted children can choose from a huge range of paperback or eBook titles, it's different for those with vision impairments. Audiobooks provide an alternative, yet they're expensive, with a limited selection of titles for youngsters.
RSBC's bridging this gap through its Bedtime Donations campaign. In partnership with Innocean, a Berlin-based creative agency, it's created a free app that allows parents to record themselves reading a children's book aloud. AI technology then helps transform the recordings into high-quality, free audiobooks.
Creating a free and growing digital library
The Bedtime Donations app is available on the App Store and Google Play, for children to listen to.
Stand-up comic and broadcaster, Jon Richardson, reads Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Jeremy Fisher, actor Alison Steadman has recorded Sleeping Beauty, and star of Death in Paradise and The Royle Family, Ralf Little, brings The Three Little Pigs to life. And hundreds of members of the public have also lent their voices to record stories, spreading the magic of storytelling.
What Bedtime Donations means to blind children
Maya was diagnosed as blind at just nine weeks old, and her mum, Sharn, was overwhelmed with questions and fears. Would Maya walk? Talk? Learn to read and write? But now, she's a vibrant, confident six-year-old who loves singing, dancing and swimming. And she adores books.
As a neonatal nurse working regular late shifts, Sharn says balancing work and bedtime can be challenging. When she gets home, Maya's already asleep, and reading a bedtime story isn't always possible.
That's why RSBC's Bedtime Donations campaign resonates deeply. "Vision impaired children like Maya really benefit from the structure and routine of audio stories," she says. "It helps them wind down and feel safe, and it's a calm, comforting moment before bed.
"The Bedtime Donations app is such a simple, brilliant idea. Knowing that Maya can enjoy books, even if I'm not home, makes a huge difference. After all, every child deserves to enjoy a bedtime story."
Donate or listen to a story
Download the RSBC Bedtime Donations app now - stories available to record as audiobooks appear in the Donate a Story section, while children can listen to recorded tales in the Listen to a Story area. The app's free, and available on the App Store and Google Play.
Find out more at RSBC Bedtime Donations
