Bookbanks brings books to food banks.
We create a space for conversation, inspiration and community by taking books, and book professionals, into food banks.
‘If you haven't got money, but you have a book, the book is knowledge and knowledge is good.’
‘I only came here today because of this. Otherwise I would have stayed home all day.’
‘These books are so uplifting. They've helped me a lot.’
As of March 2023, 3% of UK families (over 2.1 million people) are using food banks.
100% of Bookbanks users agree with: ‘This bookbank has helped me to feel more positive about the future.’
Author Andrew O’Hagan says: ‘I am proud to be an Ambassador for Bookbanks, a fabulous charity aiming to offer books, and conversation about books, to people who could use a bit of support right now. I grew up in a family that needed help, and I’ll never forget how those things formed and enlarged my sense of community. I look forward to getting behind Bookbanks as it grows across the country. I feel that it is set to become a really important part of our lives as readers, writers, neighbours, and citizens.’
Why Bookbanks?
Bookbanks provides a staffed stall of donated books and printed materials inside a food bank. These are free to browse, borrow or keep. It’s regularly refreshed and covers a wide range of genres and interests, including cookbooks, thrillers, history and children’s books. Alongside the books are printed crosswords, sudokus, wordsearches and colouring. These stalls are staffed by volunteers with professional experience in the book industry, with passion for books and widening access to them.
What is a Bookbanks stall?
We are an emerging charity, based in North-East London and looking for funding to expand across the UK.
The first Bookbanks service launched at London’s Newington Green Food Hub in September 2022. 1/3 of Newington Green Food Hub users engage with the bookbank every week. To date, 2,500 books have been taken.
A Bookbanks stall fills a food bank with conversations, imagination and aspiration. Our work advances education, literacy and social inclusion.
James, who runs the Newington Green Food Hub says: ‘Having Bookbanks here has added a welcome new dimension to what we’re doing. As guests visit the Bookbanks stall not only are they increasing their social interaction but they’re also being listened to, and as they take books away it encourages further discussions with fellow guests.’
We are on the cusp of opening our second Bookbanks stall located in Wymondham, Norfolk, and are beginning the process of expanding to South-West London too.
Our work so far…
100%
Our Impact:
‘This bookbank has encouraged me or my children to read more than we did before.’
85%
‘This bookbank has encouraged me to spend more time reading with my children.’
90%
‘This bookbank means that I own a book I wouldn’t have bought otherwise.’
Support Bookbanks
Give books to Bookbanks:
We would love to take your books, but storage is at a premium in foodbanks, so we aren’t able to take book donations directly.
We would, however, love to connect you and your books with your local Bookbanks service - as and when it opens. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the kind of books that are needed and where.
Occasionally we have requests from bookbank users for specific titles - if you’d like to help source these, follow us on social media to stay up-to-date.
Give money to Bookbanks:
To enable us to open 2 new Bookbanks services in 2024
To establish a pipeline of volunteers, resources and opportunities in the Books, Arts and Education sectors
To amplify voices of a marginalised audience to the Arts sector
To develop our volunteer training materials and support system
To programme a range of accessible and engaging author-led events at collaborating food banks
If you have any questions about how your money will be used, please get in touch.
Give your time to Bookbanks:
We are looking for volunteers who work, or have worked in the books industry - whether that is as a librarian, writer, bookseller, publisher, agent, journalist, academic or something else - to staff our Bookbanks stalls.
You need to be passionate about using books as a force of change, and to be able to commit to one Bookbanks session a month for a minimum of six months, after undergoing our training and a trial period.
We also welcome volunteers from the books industry who’d can offer specific expertise to grow the charity.
If you think this is or could be you, please get in touch.
