Bookbanks Canterbury
When Bookbanks Canterbury launched last week at the Hub Cafe, more than 200 free books found new homes in just two hours. Over half of these were for children. One guest visiting the food bank, which serves families struggling with food poverty, summed up what the welcome meant to them: “This is like Christmas come early… Thank you for helping us feel heard and seen!”
That wonderful start is part of a bigger milestone for Bookbanks. In addition to Canterbury, we’ve also opened new Bookbanks locations inside a Newcastle food bank and a New Cross social supermarket this month, adding 30 new volunteers to our numbers, as well as expanding our reach into two whole new regions - the North East and the South East.
It’s an exciting moment for us, made real by the local volunteers, partners and supporters who have all helped us get books into the hands of more people - so a huge and sincere thank you! As author, TV presenter and Bookbanks supporter Vick Hope says:
“Books can inspire confidence, spark curiosity and help people dream big, whatever their own story. As someone who's incredibly proud to be from the North East, it's brilliant to see Bookbanks coming to the region, giving people using food banks access to free books. Everyone deserves the chance to fall in love with reading, and I know from my own experience just how life-changing that can be.”
Bookbanks Director, Hattie Garlick, said:
“During this National Year of Reading, Bookbanks’ mission could not be more meaningful or urgent. Books should not be a luxury. They are a proven path towards better opportunities and wellbeing, and Bookbanks is helping more people access these transformative effects.”
Bookbanks New Cross
Help us reach more communities
These openings are another step towards our goal of bringing Bookbanks to 30 food banks by 2030. If you’d like to help us keep growing, do consider making a donation to Bookbanks. Big or small, one-off or regular, your support will help us bring books to more people and build our work in new communities.
If you’re a local company, club or individual with books to share, we’d love to hear from you too, especially if you have children’s books. Please email your local team first so we can confirm what’s needed and arrange a donation:
Newcastle: Newcastle@bookbanks.co.uk
Canterbury: Canterbury@bookbanks.co.uk
New Cross: Newcross@bookbanks.co.uk
Bookbanks Newcastle
The new sites are…
Newcastle: Newcastle Foodbank, NE4 8AQ. Thursdays, 10am–12pm.
Canterbury: The Hub Cafe, CT1 1UT. Thursdays, 11am–1pm.
New Cross: Feed the Hill, a social supermarket at SE14 6AT. Wednesdays, 10am–12pm.
To everyone supporting Bookbanks as we grow, thanks for helping us change the story at food banks through books.
