BookTrust Christmas Appeal: ‘Not everyone can get to a library. Not everyone can afford to go to the bookshop’

The festive break can be especially tough for families who would normally receive free school meals. In Brighton and Hove, Chomp is a club that aims to support these families, offering hot meals, entertainment and social interaction during the holidays. 

“Today is Chatty café.” says Rachel Johnson, Community Worker for Chomp at Hove Methodist Church. ​“We welcome everyone from the community – old or young. We eat cake, drink hot drinks and chat. 

“A lot of our Chomp families are single parents, and it can be a lonely world out there. Coming here, it’s a safe, warm, welcoming place for people who would otherwise be on their own.” 

When parents come along to Chatty café and other Chomp meet-ups before Christmas Day, they’re gifted a BookTrust festive parcel, with a brand new age-appropriate book to take home to share with their children. Rachel describes how important the parcels are. 

“It means an awful lot to the parents and the children,” she says. ​“It means someone out there is thinking of them.” 

One parent supported by Chomp, Lilly, is appreciative of the chance to share a brand new book with her little boy. ​“Families are brought together with books, and spending time together over Christmas is such an important thing” she says. 

“I’m going to wrap this up as a Christmas present for my son. I think he’ll be very happy to open this on Christmas morning.” 

Cristina has a ten year-old son, who loves to read scientific things. 

She says: ​“I’ve opened the BookTrust pack and it’s an encyclopaedia! I’m wrapping it up for him for Christmas, he’ll be very happy to have it. He’s very curious and he likes to know the answers to things.” 

Meanwhile, Allana reflects on why equal access to books and stories for every child is something that should be protected. 

“Books shape you as a person,“ she says. ​“Especially a book you really enjoy. You sort of take it into yourself. Not having books in a child’s life, it’s just quite sad really, isn’t it? 

Not everyone can get to a library. Not everyone can afford to go to the bookshop. It’s really great that we get this support.”