Give a Book
Give a Book started in 2011 with a simple aim—to give books and promote the pleasure of reading for children and adults in the hardest places.
There is plenty of evidence of the clear link between reading for pleasure and thriving.
Hard places inevitably lead us to prisons. There are around 88,000 people in prison (2023), of whom all but 65 will come out. Most of these people have families. Prisoners who maintain family contact and visits are significantly less likely to reoffend.
We support prison family days and other reading initiatives for prisoners and their children.
Reading together as family builds bridges and bonds. It’s the chance to help a young child learn to read, or later, discuss school, interests and what they love –crucially it’s a way for the parent who is away to remain a part of the life of the home.
Raising Readers is a family reading project connecting parents with their children despite the distance and difficult circumstances. We create a bespoke book list, refreshed quarterly, with guidance for less confident parent readers. Prison libraries display the children’s books on a specially decorated stand for parents to browse and choose from.
Our USP is to give two copies of the book, one for the parents inside to keep, and one, with a special bookplate, to be sent home to their child. In this way the family can share the story over the phone, on a video visit or during an in-person visit when possible.
‘These small gestures mean the world to us and for me illustrate the difference between punishment for punishment’s sake and genuine efforts at rehabilitation.’ Prisoner parent
The Lightbulb Trust is generously supporting this initiative, enabling us to raise readers in eight more prisons, potentially reaching over 3000 children and their parents.
Give a Book
Give a Book started in 2011 with a simple aim—to give books and promote the pleasure of reading for children and adults in the hardest places.
There is plenty of evidence of the clear link between reading for pleasure and thriving.
Hard places inevitably lead us to prisons. There are around 88,000 people in prison (2023), of whom all but 65 will come out. Most of these people have families. Prisoners who maintain family contact and visits are significantly less likely to reoffend.
We support prison family days and other reading initiatives for prisoners and their children.
Reading together as family builds bridges and bonds. It’s the chance to help a young child learn to read, or later, discuss school, interests and what they love –crucially it’s a way for the parent who is away to remain a part of the life of the home.
Raising Readers is a family reading project connecting parents with their children despite the distance and difficult circumstances. We create a bespoke book list, refreshed quarterly, with guidance for less confident parent readers. Prison libraries display the children’s books on a specially decorated stand for parents to browse and choose from.
Our USP is to give two copies of the book, one for the parents inside to keep, and one, with a special bookplate, to be sent home to their child. In this way the family can share the story over the phone, on a video visit or during an in-person visit when possible.
‘These small gestures mean the world to us and for me illustrate the difference between punishment for punishment’s sake and genuine efforts at rehabilitation.’ Prisoner parent
The Lightbulb Trust is generously supporting this initiative, enabling us to raise readers in eight more prisons, potentially reaching over 3000 children and their parents.
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