About us

Viv Bird, Booktrust Chief Executive

About Booktrust

Booktrust is an independent reading and writing charity that makes a nationwide impact on individuals, families and communities, and culture in the UK. We make a significant positive contribution to the educational outcomes of children from the earliest age. We work to empower people of all ages and abilities by giving them confidence and choices about reading. And we want individuals of all backgrounds to benefit from the wellbeing that a rich and positive engagement in reading and writing can bring.

Our work supports children and young people, parents and carers and indeed anyone who would benefit from the positive impact that books, reading and writing can have on their lives.

Vision: Empowering people through reading and writing.

Mission: Booktrust inspires everyone to enjoy books, reading and writing and the lifelong benefits that they bring. Our aim is to build a literate, connected and creative society.

A personal message from Viv Bird, Booktrust Chief Executive

As Chief Executive of Booktrust it goes without saying that I am passionate about reading. As a child, I was the sort of person who always had her nose in a book, imagining myself as Jo from Little Women (and I love apples). I rediscovered libraries when my children were born, and the delights of picture books read 'again and again'.

My experiences as an adult literacy tutor highlighted the level of challenge in helping adults with lower level skills and little confidence to benefit from the reading and writing experience, and the personal pride and sense of accomplishment when they succeeded.

At Booktrust, through the range of our activities, we recognise that strong partnerships are needed to deliver long-term gains in literacy and learning. Creative agencies like Booktrust, with the support of inspirational writers, play an important motivating role for individual learners and educators alike.

Booktrust's unique public private partnerships work with central and local government and the publishing industry through the 'free books' reading programmes. This includes Bookstart which benefits every child in the country under the age of three, creating significant social value for parents, children and the state. For every £1 the state invests in the programme, Bookstart returns a total £25 of value to society.

Thank you to all our partners and funders. There are huge, but exciting challenges in taking people to literacy and beyond, but together, I know we can make a difference