Anxiety UK launch new partnership with Listening Books

Anxiety UK and Listening Books has announced a unique new partnership that will provide additional support to Anxiety UK members who are who find it difficult or impossible to read due to their anxiety condition/disability/learning or mental health difficulty.

The new partnership with Listening Books will provide Anxiety UK beneficiaries access to audiobooks on 3 easily accessible formats: through the post on MP3 CD, or downloaded and streamed online at a discounted rate.

Anxiety UK’s Chief Executive Nicky Lidbetter said: “We’re extremely pleased to announce this new partnership with Listening Books on World Mental Health Day as part of a package of services and support available to our members that are living with/affected by anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression.  We know that reading can boost mental health and bring about feelings of relaxation and so we are delighted to be able to offer access to Listening Book’s services for our members.

Bill Dee, Director of Listening Books, said: “We are proud to partner with Anxiety UK to offer a discount for their members. A mental health issue like anxiety no longer needs to be a barrier to accessing the pleasure of reading. Audiobooks can offer comfort and escapism at any time of the day or night, and we hope that a Listening Books membership will help provide this for Anxiety UK members.”

Louise Barling, Library and PR Manager at Listening Books, added: “We are delighted to be working with Anxiety UK to offer their members a discount to our service, as we have long been aware of the struggles anxiety can have on the ability to relax, find calm, and concentrate. A membership to Listening Books will mean that members can borrow our titles at a time and pace that suits their needs. We very much hope that a membership to Listening Books will have a positive impact on their life.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Anxiety UK

Anxiety UK is run by and for those living with and/or affected by anxiety disorders, stress and depression. With over 46 years experience of providing support, Anxiety UK delivers a range of services including a national information line, and talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling and clinical hypnotherapy through its network of Anxiety UK Approved Therapists.

For more information on any of Anxiety UK’s services including training, partnership and consultancy services contact: info@anxietyuk.org.uk, call 0161 226 7727 or visit: www.anxietyuk.org.uk.

About Listening Books

About Listening Books

1. Listening Books is a UK national charity providing over 7,000 audiobook titles for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to an illness, disability, learning difficulty or mental health issue via an online and postal library service.
2. The charity was founded in 1959 by Norma Skemp after a serious accident caused her to virtually lose her sight, but as she could still ‘see something’ they were unable to help her. She recognised a gap in provision for people with disabilities and set up Listening Books as a result.
3. Listening Books have championed audiobook technology, leading the voluntary sector in negotiating formal contracts with commercial publishers to provide audiobook titles to people with print impairments.
4. Listening Books now have over 50,000 members, and are continuing to grow. To find out more visit – listening-books.org.uk