'We want to get thousands of books to children in need in Leeds for Christmas'
Volunteers are needed to help young book lovers living in poverty in Leeds write a new chapter this Christmas.
The Leeds branch of charity The Children’s Book Project is appealing for generous locals to attend regular volunteering sessions helping them to collect, sort and distribute high quality, pre-loved and second-hand books to schools across the city.
From their base at Seagulls in Holbeck, the run-up to Christmas will see the charity joining fellow branches across the UK in an ambitious drive to gift one million books to children living in book poverty in the coming year to help transform pupils’ relationship with reading.
And with generous donations from local businesses already piling high, the charity, run and staffed by a small team of volunteers, needs help to get the books into the hands of a child living in a deprived area of the city.
Laura Thompson, regional coordinator at the Leeds Children’s Book Project, said: “With Christmas coming up, we know people are great at going the extra mile to help those who are less fortunate, and that means we’re hoping to get more donations than ever in the coming weeks.
“That’s fantastic news for us, because it means we’ll have the chance to help more young readers, who otherwise might never know the joy of having books at home, to experience the unique magic of storytelling.
“But it also means we’ll really have our hands full - it’s probably going to a be a bit like Santa’s workshop here, so we’re going to need the support of volunteers more than ever.
“It’s a massive challenge, but with enough help, we can change the lives of thousands of children in Leeds this Christmas and be the spark that ignites a lifelong love of stories.”
Since starting up in Leeds, the charity’s local branch has been hard at work, establishing a series of partnerships with generous local libraries, businesses and organisations which help them gather donations.
Regular volunteering sessions with the project can typically include helping the team set up for the day as well as checking, sorting and boxing up books so they are ready to be sent off to schools.
Volunteer roles are open to all, including individuals, groups and corporate volunteering schemes. The charity also accepts donations including baby books, right up to titles for young teenagers.
For more information about the children’s book project, visit: www.childrensbookproject.co.uk
To find out more about volunteering on a regular basis or to sign-up to help, email: [email protected]