NEWS: Book Clubs in Schools Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Book Clubs in Schools announce inaugural #BookClubsInSchoolsDay in celebration of 10th anniversary

Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS), the only charity that empowers older pupils to run book clubs for younger children, today announced Thursday 1st May as #BookClubsInSchoolsDay. The day was created to mark the charity’s 10th anniversary and to share the many benefits that book clubs bring to children and young people. As well as celebrating the children, teachers, librarians and authors who have been part of their story, BCiS will encourage all schools to get involved in book clubs. Events on the day will include an in-person event with Michael Rosen at Merton Abbey Primary School and live online events featuring authors Tom Palmer and Sita Brahmachari. There will also be a recorded session with author and illustrator David Litchfield.

Founded by parents Alison Palmer and Beth Ginsburg to encourage their own children to read more, BCiS has seen 40,000 children from more than 250 schools nationwide engage with its book clubs across primary, secondary and pupil referral unit (PRU) settings since it started. Not only does BCiS help schools create a reading-for-pleasure culture, but the unique peer-led approach provides many other advantages: book clubs foster communication and leadership skills, boost pupil confidence and well-being, and strengthen school communities.

Alison Palmer, co-founder and director of Books Clubs in Schools says:
‘I am so proud that the book clubs that Beth Ginsburg and I started 10 years ago in one primary school in Wimbledon Park has grown into BCiS today. It all began because we were concerned that our children weren’t choosing to read – something that Beth and I both love to do. Without reading and talking about books, the world is a smaller place. How do you put yourself in someone else’s shoes? How do you learn about the wider world? Books open those doors and create space to dream.
We are a small charity, but the impact on young lives has been immeasurable. Having older children lead the Book Clubs is the magic ingredient – it makes it feel ‘not school’. I think 10-year-old me – who always had her nose in a book – would be proud of all we’ve achieved.’

For further information about #BooksClubsInSchoolsDay, how to get involved and downloadable resources please visit www.bookclubsinschools.org/10-years