Give a Book work with and provide books for Book Clubs in Schools, a not-for-profit organisation offering a unique peer-to-peer mentoring programme which inspires a lifelong love of reading and critical thinking.
What They Do…
- Year 10s lead book clubs for all Year 7s, or 6th formers work with younger children in local primary schools.
- Target schools in disadvantaged areas, as the pupils in these schools derive the most benefit
- Provide training sessions and materials to book club leaders to facilitate book clubs
- Develop questions and activities related to the books which we provide to book clubs to stimulate discussion and encourage a passion for reading
- Work with the schools to track the academic results and benefits of book clubs
- Currently running in secondary schools in London, Bournemouth, Stockport and Dudley
“We aim to help all young people engage with the wider world through developing their character and communication skills along with a love of reading,” explain BCiS founders Beth Ginsburg and Alison Palmer.
How Give a Book helps…
- Give a Book supplies books for school book clubs with above-average numbers of pupils receiving pupil premium
- Since September 2018, 16 schools and over 1,500 students have benefitted from receiving books from Give a Book to use for the BCiS programme. Books belong to the school and are therefore reused for future Book Clubs, so the reach is thousands of students over the school year.
What they say…
- “We wouldn’t be able to take part in the Book Clubs In Schools initiative if it wasn’t for Give A Book. Since starting the programme in September we’ve been given over 100 books, books which have been vital for our book clubs to run. By providing us with sets of these books – from such a diverse range of so many fantastic books – we’re able to see such amazing progress. The students get to read books they quickly fall in love with, as well as having the social and personal development from taking part in book club. I cannot show my appreciation enough for how big a contribution they have made to so many students.” Bishop Challoner School
- “Getting enough copies of The Declaration by Gemma Malley means the whole of Year 8 get the opportunity to experience an exciting dystopian novel together in their books clubs. The conversations they have been having each week, discussing themes and characters in the book, really demonstrates how reading within the book clubs is expanding their horizons and developing their minds and is lovely to see as a teacher.” Fulham Cross Girls School
In March 2021, BCiS and Speakers for Schools launched the National Teen Book Club, a UK-wide virtual book club for teenagers. Supported by Harper Collins, The National Teen Book Club aims to make reading more accessible and more enjoyable for more young people, and inspire a new generation of creative writers. To read their blog on their story so far, click here.
Updated April 2021