20 years and counting...

Looking forward to National Bookstart Week - and a special birthday

Everyone enjoys a party, and at Booktrust we don't need a second invitation to have a good knees-up. Next week is a massive one for us as we celebrate National Bookstart Week and host a very special 20^th birthday party for Bookstart. National Bookstart Week runs from 11 to 17 June and there will be thousands of events up and down the country using this year's theme, 'Parties', to celebrate the joy of sharing books, stories and rhymes.     

No one involved in the pilot of just 300 babies in Birmingham in 1992 could have dreamt that the programme would go on to become as big as it has done. More than 32 million free books have been given to families since 1992 and Bookstart has become firmly embedded in the cultural and educational life of this country.

After 20 years we're starting to see parents who were themselves Bookstart babies receiving packs for their newborns; passing on their love for books and stories to the next generation with the help of free books, guidance and support from us.

Bookstart is there for every family

Booktrust has developed Bookstart from its humble origins into the most significant reading programme across the UK - indeed, Bookstart is now a worldwide phenomenon. As well as providing free books to every baby in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we've developed a whole range of materials to help families with different needs. Bookshine and Booktouch books and resources are specially designed to help babies with hearing and sight impairments to become engaged in books and stories. And Bookstart Corner, launched earlier this year is helping us to reach 150,000 disadvantaged babies and toddlers - making sure that no one gets left behind. Bookstart is there for every family, giving babies and toddlers the best start in life, making sure they're ready to start school and get the most out of their educational opportunities.

Founded on partnerships

None of this would be possible without the help of a huge network of people and organisations who give Bookstart its impetus at a national and local level. From the libraries that coordinate the programme and host Rhymetime sessions, to the local authorities, to the health visitors who gift the packs, to the publishers who provide books so generously. And of course successive governments have provided essential seed funding to allow Booktrust to weave all of these groups together.

Our current tranche of funding from the Department for Education in England comes to an end in March 2013. Having already weathered a more than 50% cut last year to funding for our bookgifting programmes, we're waiting for the government to demonstrate its continued commitment to these crucial reading programmes. Without central funding sustained at the current level, the Bookstart programme will face fundamental changes that may result in key services being reduced or cut entirely and children missing out on the joys of sharing books.

Your Bookstart 20 pledge matters

Throughout this year we're celebrating 20 years of Bookstart with the Bookstart 20 campaign. A central part of this is the Bookstart 20 pledge to share 20 books. This week, we've smashed through 5,000 pledges - so we're more than half way to reaching our target of 10,000. We've been overwhelmed by the level of support we've had for the campaign - which shows how much goodwill and passion exists towards the programme. Dozens of celebrities - including Jamie Oliver, Sir Cliff Richard and Julia Donaldson - have made their pledge alongside thousands of you.

With National Bookstart Week kicking off on Monday, we know that number will shoot up. So, if you haven't already made the pledge, you can do so right here at www.booktrust.org.uk. And if you have, why not get out and about during National Bookstart Week and persuade your friends to do the same?

Every pledge that is made helps us to secure Bookstart for the next generation of babies and toddlers.