Investment in Ukrainian, Polish and children’s Braille books

Thanks to a Libraries as Sanctuaries grant from Welsh Government, Awen Cultural Trust has invested in new Ukrainian, Polish and children’s Braille books, helping more children and families access stories in the language and format that best meets their needs.

The new collection will be available through Awen Libraries across Bridgend County Borough and reflects Awen and Bridgend County Borough Council’s commitment to making reading more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

The investment includes a selection of children’s books written in Ukrainian and Polish, supporting children and families for whom these are their first or preferred languages. The collection will help families maintain important connections with their language, culture and identity.

Awen has also expanded its collection of children’s Braille books, with titles available in both Grade 1 and Grade 2 Braille.

Grade 1, also known as uncontracted Braille, provides a letter-for-letter translation from print, while Grade 2, or contracted Braille, uses additional signs and shortened forms of common words and letter combinations, making it quicker to read and reducing the space required.

The books will support children at different stages of learning and using Braille, while helping them experience the enjoyment, independence and confidence that can come from reading for themselves.

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, said:

“Libraries should be places where every child and family can feel welcome and discover the joy of reading. By investing in Ukrainian, Polish and children’s Braille books, we are making our collections more representative, accessible and responsive to the needs of our communities.

“Reading in a first or preferred language can help children maintain a connection with their identity and culture, while also supporting families to share stories together. Our new Braille books will give blind and partially sighted children more opportunities to explore stories independently and develop their reading skills.

“This investment is about more than simply adding new books to our shelves. It is about removing barriers, widening choice and ensuring that more children can experience the imagination, knowledge and enjoyment that reading can bring, a commitment we share with our council partners.”

Cllr Jane Gebbie, Deputy Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said:

“Every child should have the opportunity to discover the joy of reading, regardless of the language they speak or whether they are blind or partially sighted. Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of providing library services that truly meet the needs of our communities.

“This investment is an important step in removing barriers to reading and ensuring children and families can access books in a way that works for them. Having books available in Ukrainian and Polish can help children feel represented and maintain important connections with their language and culture, while our expanded Braille collection gives blind and partially sighted children greater choice and the opportunity to enjoy stories independently.

“Bridgend County Borough Council is proud to work with Awen Cultural Trust to support library services that are welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all. Everyone should be able to find something that speaks to them in their local library, and this new collection will help make that a reality for even more children and families across the county borough.”