WEST HOUSE SCHOOL SETS UP REGIONAL COLLECTION CENTRE ON BEHALF OF NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK CHARITY
West House School is delighted to partner with the Children’s Book Project to establish a South Birmingham collection and distribution hub.
Working in close collaboration with the Preparatory School girls of Edgbaston High School, the project has already enabled us to distribute hundreds of books to primary schools across the city this summer term.
One in three disadvantaged children across the UK has fewer than ten books of their own at home*, and one in ten has none. The Children’s Book Project seeks to give every child the opportunity to own their own book, empowering children to choose a book they are motivated to read.
West House is now an official drop-off point for people to donate ‘gently loved’ books. With the help of staff and children from EHS Prep School and West House School, together with the Children’s Book Project, 1,500 books have already been gifted to three primary schools in South Birmingham.
Laura Forrester from The Children’s Book Project says, “We are thrilled to be working with WHS and EHS Prep to help balance the ownership of books in the community. The launch of our dedicated Birmingham hub enables us to provide books through celebratory gifting events, to children in the city year-round.”
She adds, “We are extremely grateful to both schools for all their support as we strive to tackle book poverty and nurture new and existing book loving communities.”
Alistair Lyttle, Headmaster at West House School is extremely enthusiastic about the project, “We feel that this charity is a brilliant fit for our school, and we hope that this marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration. I know that our school community will whole-heartedly get behind this and we have already been overwhelmed with the number of book donations.”
He also comments, “It is also great to work closely with EHS Prep School on something where our pupils can get hands-on with the sorting and packaging of the books that will have a positive impact in their own community.”
Sally Hartley, Head of Edgbaston High School Prep, says “The girls in the Prep at EHS love reading and sharing books with each other at school and are delighted to be able to work in partnership with West House School and ‘The Children’s Book Project’ to share books with other children. The girls have already demonstrated their enthusiasm with the hundreds of donations.”
The drop-off point is situated at the front of West House School, 24 St James Road, B15 2NX [available between 7:30am -6 pm, weekdays during term time]
Books should be in nearly new condition.
The Children’s Book Project is a national charity which started in London and has now set up several regional hubs including Birmingham. Please head to their website for more information. If your school could help support the charity and run a book drive, please use the link below to register.
https://childrensbookproject.co.uk/schools-community-groups/
