Bonnier Books UK has today announced the Children’s Book Project as our official charity partner for the next two years.
The charity’s core mission to tackle book poverty and give each child the opportunity to own and choose their own book chimes with our ambitions to widen access, break down barriers to reading, and improve children’s literacy.
We have donated an initial 57,000 books in this academic year supporting the charity who recently celebrated the milestone gifting of its one millionth book since launching a decade ago. Further donations are planned throughout the next academic year.
The Children’s Book Project works across the UK to redistribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families. The charity has partnered with 730 primary and secondary schools to date, distributing books to over 250,000 children and young people across the country. In addition to schools, the charity has also worked alongside women’s groups, food banks, family-facing community groups, early years settings, and a number of prisons as it seeks to expand book ownership and promote reading for pleasure. The charity was a recipient of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Bonnier Books UK CEO Perminder Mann said: “We are proud to become the first UK publisher to partner with this very special charity. When we say ‘every book matters’, it’s because we recognize the life-changing impact that a story can have on a reader – as a springboard to new worlds, knowledge and connection. The Children’s Book Project makes these journeys of discovery possible by putting them into the hands of those who need them most. This partnership is an exciting next step as we seek to reach book lovers of all ages and backgrounds and build on the long-term commitments of our I&R Action Plan.”
Helen Wicks, managing director of Children’s Trade added: “With every story we send out into the world we hope to inspire the next generation, and a love of reading that will last a lifetime. It’s so important that young readers are able to find and choose the stories that resonate for them, and we can’t wait to see what they reach for. We’re thrilled to see these books find new homes in the hands of children up and down the country, and to play their part in fighting book poverty and closing the literacy gap.”
Children’s Book Project Founder and Director Liberty Venn said: “We are so thrilled and grateful to have the support of Bonnier Books UK, whose team really buys into our ambition that every child has the opportunity to lose themselves in a book that inspires them, regardless of circumstance. Bonnier’s catalogue includes so many exciting new and familiar titles for children and young people of all ages and we can’t wait to include these within our gifting programme.”
In addition to book donations, Bonnier Books UK staff will be able to participate in a number of planned volunteering opportunities with the Children’s Book Project, with staff offered 8 hours paid volunteering leave per year as part of our company benefit package.
