Wanted! Please support our Children's Book Appeal

An appeal has been launched for donations of pre-loved, gently used children’s books that may be lurking in Derby homes. Derby Book Festival, Marketing Derby and QUAD have teamed up to launch an Autumn Children’s Book Appeal to coincide with Derby Book Festival’s Autumn Edition. This follows the success of an appeal in May, resulting in over 800 books being donated to local schools and to children who don’t have many books of their own. The appeal aims to spread a love of books and encourage a new generation of Derby readers.

People can drop off books suitable for primary school children between 14-19^th November at locations in the City centre.

Firs School, a multicultural primary school located near Derby City Centre, was one of the schools benefitting from donated books.

“The donated books have had a huge positive impact with the children,” reported Firs chief administrator, Mandy Pickering.

“We received 50 lovely books and decided to use them as rewards for the children when they completed their bronze, silver and gold standard in our school reading scheme. So many of our children have no books at home so to see their faces light up when they earned a book was wonderful.

“Being able to choose their own free book to own and take home has really incentivised them. We’re very grateful to everyone who has been kind enough to donate books,” Mandy concluded.

Sian Hoyle, Director of Derby Book Festival says: “In the run-up to Christmas many people might want to have a good sort out of books their children or grandchildren have grown out of. We’re asking that they consider donating them to us so that we can bring books to the lives of many more Derby children and help to develop their love of reading.”

There are several ways children’s books can be donated:

Drop them off with these generous partners:

*Marketing Derby: Derby City Lab, 19-21 St James’s St DE1 1RF

Tuesday 14th to Friday 17^th November (12noon to 4pm)

*QUAD, Market Place DE1 3AF

Friday 17th to Sunday 19^th November (10am-8pm)

*Derbion’s Customer Service Desk, (Ask Derbion),

located in the middle of the shopping centre by Boots

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November (10am - 5pm)

Host your own book donation appeal

Some local businesses have asked to host their own book donation points at the workplace. For more information and a Children’s Book Appeal poster to display at workplaces and community centres contact hello@derbybookfestival.co.uk

John Forkin, Marketing Derby’s MD said: “We’re delighted to be part of this great initiative again. We know that many children in Derby grow up in homes with very few books of their own, sometimes no books at all. Literacy skills are vital for future employment prospects. We’re opening our Derby City Lab for four afternoons in November so people can easily drop off any good-condition books that their family has finished with.

“We’re also supporting any bondholders who want to host their own drop-off points for books at their workplace,” concluded John.