BookTrust Christmas Appeal: "I see children really wanting stories. A home without books is a lonely one."
With your help, BookTrust is bringing the magic of reading to children who need it most. Here, two of our partners in Durham and Sandwell describe why BookTrust’s festive book parcels are so important for the families they work with
Annie Pluse at The Bread and Butter Thing, Durham, handing out BookTrust packs
The ‘Bread and Butter Thing’ is a food project supporting low-income communities. Today, a team of busy volunteers at one of their community hubs in Durham packs shopping bags filled with low-cost healthy food for residents of Sherburn Road estate – along with a free BookTrust festive pack.
“Our partnership with BookTrust is so important” says Annie Pluse, Partnerships Coordinator for The Bread and Butter Thing. ”It creates extra support for our members. I’m a mum, and I remember how amazing it is to read to my children. I just think it’s lovely.
The quality of the BookTrust books is wonderful. When we give out the book packs, some members say: ‘Oh my goodness, do you want some money?’ We say: ‘No! This is our gift to you.’ It definitely makes them feel special.
Annie Pluse, Partnerships Coordinator for The Bread and Butter Thing
Getting new books into families’ homes
Councillor Christine Fletcher is here to support members of the community get their food shopping from The Bread and Butter Thing and their BookTrust book parcels – including those who can’t afford to travel here.
Christine says: “Life on benefits is extremely brutal. It doesn’t leave much time or money at all for anything other than essentials.
“A home without books is a lonely one. I see children really wanting stories and wanting the colour and the language and the imagination. They need the tools to do that. And the tools involve having a lovely collection of books in your home.
“In this BookTrust pack, there’s a children’s encyclopaedia. I just know there will be children who will pore over this book and then tell their families all about how things work. These books are meant to be shared. It’s about curling up on the sofa, taking time to look at the pictures and talking about the books together.”
Christine adds: “By donating, you are helping to open those doors for families who might not have thought they could have a new book in the house this Christmas.”
A mother and son reading together at the Brasshouse Lane Community Centre
A new book on Christmas Day: ‘It’s magical’
In Smethwick, Sandwell, the Brasshouse Lane Community Centre is hosting its annual evening of festive entertainment for families, who will each be given a BookTrust book parcel to take home.
For Liane Smith, the centre’s Community Hub Food Manager and her team, the BookTrust donations help take the pressure off families with something they can open and enjoy together this Christmas.
We wanted to make sure that even if people can’t afford presents at this time of year, they’ve got something. We’re able to provide that because of BookTrust.
Liane Smith, Community Hub Food Manager
“I think it will be a really nice surprise for our local community. They can either keep the book parcel and save it until Christmas, or they can open it up today.
“Reading brings families together. It encourages that one-on-one time, that interaction with each other, turning those pages. It’s magical.”
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