Welsh government continues funding for bookgifting programmes

Further three years of Bookstart in Wales confirmed, plus other bilingual programmes

We are very pleased to announce that the Welsh government has committed a further three years funding to Booktrust’s bookgifting and reading intervention programmes.

In these challenging times, this level of support demonstrates the high value placed upon the programmes, both by ministers and the public service professionals who deliver them in every local authority in Wales.

The Welsh government is investing in the public/private partnership that underpins the programmes. This is where government investment levers in generous support from children’s publishers, authors, illustrators and others, making  programmes like Bookstart an excellent use of public funds.

The bilingual programmes that are funded for a further three years include:

• Dechrau Da – the Bookstart programme in Wales
• Flying Start – a targeted programme for families facing social disadvantage
• the Letterbox Club – a programme which supports the educational outlook for looked after children in Wales.

In addition, we are developing a new foundation stage programme to build upon Bookstart. It will support children, and their families, as they make the key developmental transition into reception class and begin their formal education.

Each programme aims to support every child on their reading journey, and offers the educational, social, emotional and cultural benefits which are engendered by a love of independent reading and writing, for pleasure and purpose. Our aim is to grow readers for life.