How we're working with food banks to brighten up Christmas for children across the UK
Published on: 14 November 2022
Christmas can be a tough time of year, particularly for low-income families. Through BookTrust’s Christmas Appeal, we aim to give 16,000 book gifts to disadvantaged children and children in care, to help brighten up their Christmas.
We work with food banks in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country to distribute books to children during the festive months, surprising them with a magical gift to take home with them. One such London-based food bank gave out around 150 BookTrust books last year to children aged three to 13. Every family with children and grandchildren received high-quality, age-appropriate books to call their own.
Food banks are lifeline for many low-income families, providing support to those who can’t afford to buy essential items. These families face difficult financial choices every day and buying a new hardback book of such quality would not be an option.
Volunteers and staff at the food bank were delighted to be so generous with the books. Families were often in disbelief at being ‘allowed’ to take more than one book home to keep.
Please help us spread the joy of reading this year by supporting our 2022 Christmas Appeal.
Mum, Emma*, spoke about the books her son received through BookTrust. The parent said one of the fact books was her son's favourite Christmas present:
"He didn't want to go to bed and just wanted to stay reading this book. Now every day he comes to me and reads me something and says: "Mum did you know this?" He is learning so many new things and telling me all about it".
Together, we can light up Christmas for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Please give today.
*Not her real name.
Topics: Features
