BookTrust Christmas Appeal: “This is deeper than just providing books. It’s about dignity, love and care”
The Pioneers Project is one of BookTrust’s partners in Plymouth, where festive book parcels are being gifted to local families. Here’s why your donations are so important in helping more children experience the joy and benefits of books and shared reading as an ordinary part of childhood.
Lisa Dawson runs The Pioneers Project, a community group based at Bull Point Barracks near Plymouth. They provide essential services and support for local families, including a food larder supported by surplus supermarket food, and a welcoming volunteer-run café serving affordable meals.
“Everybody that comes here has a story,” says Lisa. “We all need a helping hand at times. So many services in our area have now become crisis services. The demand has become so high, and lives have become so complex. We want to be that early intervention that people used to have.”
While some children are growing up surrounded by a world of stories, some have none at all – and this shouldn’t decide their future.
At BookTrust, we know how transformative a childhood with books can be. Together with partners like The Pioneers Project, BookTrust will deliver 18,000 festive book parcels to children who need them most this Christmas.
These parcels are filled with engaging, high-quality, age-appropriate books for families to share together, bringing them precious moments of comfort, closeness and joy to children, many of whom will not have books in their home.
For a child, having their own book could be the start of everything
Family at The Pioneers Project enjoying their new book with their baby
“I think if we’re getting books into people’s lives earlier on, and books that are attractive enough that kids want to read them, we can help prevent that later on in life where they can’t read and write,” says Lisa.
“Having brand new books is quite a treat for our families, it’s a blessing. But also, this is deeper than just providing books. It’s about dignity, love and care.”
Jennifer Saunders works as Development Officer for Plymouth Libraries. She regularly meets with families and chats to them about books and reading support available for them at their local library. Today, she’s here at The Pioneers Project community cafe, giving out the BookTrust festive book parcels.
Jennifer Saunders, Plymouth Libraries, gifting BookTrust festive parcels
She says: “It’s such a joy to be gifting the books to people who need them, and who will cherish them. The quality of the books really stands out, and there’s been such a joyful reception to them.
“I’ve had different families take four books, as a gift for each one of their children. They’ve really appreciated it. I think we’ve done something really wonderful today.”
Jennifer Saunders, Development Officer, Plymouth Libraries
Your support helps our partners like Lisa and Jennifer get festive book parcels to families who need them most, just in time for Christmas.
Give a child books of their very own
Please donate to our Christmas appeal and help open a world of possibility for children who need it most.
Donate now