Dolly Parton's free book program expands to ten London boroughs, reaching 157,000 children

The Dollywood Foundation, created by country singer Dolly Parton, has broadened its free-book programme to include ten additional London boroughs, raising the number of eligible children in the city to 157,000. The scheme, which began in 1995 as a tribute to Parton’s father, provides a complimentary book each month to every child in participating areas until they turn five, with no income test. Jeff Conyers, the foundation’s president, said the expansion was made possible by contributions from Postcode Lottery participants, allowing more families to experience the joy of a new book arriving at their door.

The programme now operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, having distributed over 300 million books worldwide. Officials note that only 41% of children under four are read to regularly, down from 64% in 2012, underscoring the importance of encouraging early literacy. The expansion aims to boost reading frequency and foster a love of books among young Londoners.