Donate now to provide books and educational resources to children and families in Manchester.
Can you help to give the gift of reading to Manchester families who are struggling this Christmas?
Last year, £4,000 was raised to buy new books for children and young people in Manchester as part of the Book Gifting Campaign. Despite libraries and schools being fully open again, the impact of Covid on children's learning means that access to books at home has never been more important.
Research shows that, during the pandemic, children and young people who didn't own books, or books they liked, read less frequently than before. A prominent theme from children's reflections on their reading experiences during the pandemic was 'inequality in access to books'.
The educational attainment gap between those from lower socio-economic backgrounds compared to those from higher income backgrounds has widened following the disruption to learning during the pandemic. Younger children, children who are eligible for free school meals, and areas with higher levels of deprivation in urban areas in the north, all show the greatest decline.
Read Manchester and Manchester Libraries have been making a difference, but there is still much more to do. Over 75,000 new books have been gifted since the first lockdown in March 2020, and the response from those organisations and families that have received them has been extremely positive.
The hampers go to families who are struggling to provide food, and consequently have little money to spare for extras like books.
The books are bringing families together and are really good at taking families minds off the everyday worries and tensions.
The Manchester Central Library Development Trust works with over 100 local organisations including foodbanks, community groups, SureStart Centres, refugees and youth groups.
This Christmas make a donation to support the Book Gifting initiative. By donating to this appeal you will be helping to get books and resources to children and families in Manchester who need them most.