An audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.
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The companionship and delight of a voice telling stories is incomparable. Listening Books distributes pure, undiluted pleasure and friendship. Not many schemes can make such a claim.
Stephen Fry, Patron
Listening Books
Registered charity no. 264221
Become a Member
We Are Now an Approved Activity Provider for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award!
We are offering the Bronze Level Award. Click on the button below to find out more.
Our service is quick and easy to use and opens up the wonderful world of books for people with an illness or condition that impacts on their ability to read the printed word. This could be a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a mental health condition like anxiety, a visual impairment, or a physical condition that makes it more difficult to hold a book, such as arthritis.
We have a huge range of fiction and non-fiction titles for both adults and children, and we support school age children from age 7 upwards. Listening to audiobooks allows children and young people to listen to the same books their friends are reading, helping to instil a greater understanding and enjoyment of literature. For our adult members, listening to audiobooks can provide hours of entertainment, but they can also be a welcome distraction from loneliness or a health condition. We firmly believe having a print disability shouldn't affect your access and enjoyment of books!
Our members can also listen to thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world, with title choices updated on a daily basis.
We support individuals, but also organisations that provide support, such as hospices, care homes and schools.
As a charity that enjoys the support of trusts, companies and individual donors, we are able to offer a significant subsidy on the cost of membership, meaning that the fee our members pay is less than 30% of true costs. And for those people who would find the membership fee a barrier to joining, we are able to offer free membership in many cases.
Our membership team always strive to provide a personal service to our members, and we are happy to support users via telephone, email or post to ensure they are getting the very best from their membership.
Listening Books are fantastic! Since I joined, Listening Books have given me a real lift. Being able to access wonderful stories and autobiographies after not being able to read has been wonderful. Thank you so much. Katie, Member
For individuals, membership costs £25 per year. We can also offer a limited number of free memberships for those who would find the fee a barrier to joining the service.
We have over 9,000+ titles from a wide variety of genres in both fiction and non-fiction. Members are very welcome to suggest books or authors they would like to see in our catalogue.
Listening to an audiobook is not only a great source of entertainment, they can also help you unwind, de-stress and we have a selection of books that support education and the National Curriculum.
Listen to thousands of newspapers, magazines and comics, all included in membership. Click here to find out more.
School membership from just £125 per year for 10 pupil logins. Email support@listening-books.org.uk to arrange a demo, or click here to find out more about membership.
Members aged 14 - 25 years can use their Listening Books membership to complete their Bronze or Silver Skills Award. Click here to find out more.
I just have to say a huge thank you so much for your service. I have laughed and laughed so much because of the great radio shows and audiobooks you've now given me – thank you so so much.
Chris, Member
