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Our history

Our founder, Norma Skemp, with Angela Rippon
Our founder with Angela Rippon

The charity was founded in 1959 by Norma Skemp, after a serious car accident in 1954 caused her to virtually lose her sight. When she applied to another charity for help, she found that they could not help her because she could still ‘see something’. Norma immediately recognised a gap in provision for people with disabilities and she set up Listening Books. Since then the charity has grown and now supplies audiobooks to people with the full range of print impairments.

Since 2002, we have pioneered an educational initiative called Sound Learning. Its aim is to make educational books available in audio formats, thereby improving access to the curriculum for pupils with special needs. Click here to find out more about Sound Learning.

Follow this link to listen to an audio tribute to Norma Skemp, which was written by our chairman, Gillian Howarth, in 2003.

 

Our library

Our library

Click here to see our fantastic range of fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children.

Join us

Join us

Learn more about how you or your organisation can join us.

Education

Education

We support the National Curriculum from Key Stage 2 to
A-Level, providing set texts and study guides.


Supported by the National Lottery throught the Big Lottery Fund General enquiries: 020 7407 9417 / info@listening-books.org.uk
Library enquiries: 020 7234 0522 / library@listening-books.org.uk
Fax: 020 7403 1377
Registered charity number: 264221 Patron: Stephen Fry President: The Rt. Hon. Lady Warnock DBE
All images are © Listening Books unless otherwise stated.