Give 40,000 children in Greater Manchester the chance to have a book of their own
| 1st March 2018
A unique crowdsourcing campaign has been launched in Greater Manchester on World Book Day (Thursday 1 March) to reduce book poverty for the region’s most disadvantaged children.
The Gift of Books campaign asks people to donate a copy of their favourite childhood book to one of the 40,000 children in Greater Manchester, who have no books of their own.
The initiative – a partnership between Stockport business Cartridgesave and the National Literacy Trust – will see collection points pop up in the region until Thursday 31 May, allowing Greater Manchester book lovers to share their love of the printed word.
Ian Cowley, managing director of Cartridgesave, said: “We are looking to change the future of the city’s children one book at a time by drawing on Manchester’s world-famous spirit of community.
“It is simply wrong that in 2018 so many children have don’t own a single book, a clear sign of imbalance in our society. This spring we hope that the simple act of sharing the book that made a difference to your childhood, will make a critical difference in the lives of the most disadvantaged.”
Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, said: “The Gift of Books campaign is an absolutely brilliant way to encourage children in Greater Manchester to fall in love with reading. It will really help to ensure the next generation are better equipped to tackle education, work and life.”
The National Literacy Trust and Manchester City Council are also working together on the Read Manchester campaign to promote reading and boost literacy throughout the city. They work with libraries, schools, businesses and communities to raise the profile of reading for pleasure, and have given away thousands of free books to children in the city.
Visit cartridgesave.co.uk to find your nearest collection point for the Gift of Books drop off your favourite childhood book with a small note saying why you enjoyed it so much, it’s that simple!
Pictured above and below are the children from Cavendish Primary School in Didsbury, Manchester, who were the first school to sign up to the campaign.
