West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) has become the first registered social landlord in Scotland signed up to an innovative book gifting scheme that gives children living in their households up to 60 free books.

The Imagination Library was created by the Dolly Parton Foundation and registered children get a free book every month in the post until their 5th birthday.

The Association officially re-launched Imagination Library at a storytelling event with Mairi Hedderwick, author and illustrator of the much loved Katie Morag books. Around 88 children from Keppoch Nursery, Springburn, attended the session during Book Week Scotland where they received a free signed book from the Association.

The scheme is funded by the Association’s charitable subsidiary Willowacre Trust and is part of a wider sustainable communities strategy.

Maisie O’Brien, regeneration services manager at WSHA, said: “Our involvement in the Imagination Library highlights our commitment to improving the lives of our tenants. WSHA recognises the importance of reading from an early age to develop literacy skills and hope our tenants and their families will benefit from this fantastic scheme.”

Imagination Library also works with the Scottish Government and local authorities to give more than 2500 Looked After Children in Scotland free books.

Kirsteen Watson, regional director for the Imagination Library, said: “There are 76 local Imagination Library programmes running across the UK, with almost 30,000 children receiving books every single month. This is the first ever Imagination Library programme to be sponsored by a Registered Social Landlord in Scotland and we are absolutely delighted to work with West of Scotland Housing Association.”

@WSHAScotland

@dollyslibrary