In Scope’s 2024 Calendar:
- Disability equality charity Scope explored its archives for inspiration for their 2024 calendar.
- New calendar inspired by Scope’s 2006 game-changing ‘In the Picture’ campaign that championed disabled characters in children’s books
- In 2006 and 2009 Scope hosted exhibitions backed by Quentin Blake, Cathy Hughes, Emily Ault, Jane Ray, Di Lorriman, Charlie Meyer
The charity has revived some of the stunning artwork from their ground-breaking 2006 campaign, In the Picture, which called for more disability representation in children’s books. The calendar features some of the illustrations featured in the 2006 exhibition held in London, alongside more recent illustrations from representative children’s books.
There are 1.6 million disabled children in the UK and illustrations are a powerful medium helping children to see their place in the world. Children are more likely to accept disability if they see images of disabled people at an early age. When they don’t see themselves represented, disabled children can often feel marginalised from society.
The calendar retails at £4.99 from Scope’s online shop or selected charity shops on the high street. Each call to Scope’s free Helpline costs £8, so two calendars can fund one call for a disabled person to receive expert advice and vital emotional support.
Ruth Blazye, Executive Director of Retail and Communities at disability equality charity Scope, says:
“We’re incredibly proud of our 2024 calendar. It was an absolute joy to go through our archives and re-discover such powerful and vibrant representational children’s books illustrations. The calendar also includes illustrations from recent children’s books. We are very thankful to all the artists and author who generously donated their work to Scope.
“11 per cent of children in the UK are disabled [1]. Our 2006 In The Picture campaign encouraged illustrators, writers and publishers to embrace diversity, so that disabled children are included alongside their peers in picture books for young readers.
“The power of representation is impossible to understate and we believe disabled children should be able to see themselves from the first time they open a book and be totally emersed in that story.
“Our 2024 calendar is a stunning accessory for every home and is available at our online shop along with an amazing range of unique gifts from our Disabled Artists and Makers Collection.”
Quentin Blake, illustrator and contributor to Scope’s In The Picture campaign, said in 2006:
“A picture book has an effect on a child not so very different from a good lesson. In The Picture will help reflect disabled children’s experiences, and all children will benefit. I am delighted to be involved.”
