Books do not play a part in the everyday life of millions of children. Only 42% of young children have a bedtime story. As a result, millions of children are missing out on the benefits of reading. This is especially true for disadvantaged and vulnerable children, who are less likely to own books, and less likely to have parents/carers that read. These children face other inequalities, including negative impacts on educational achievement, language and literacy levels, and mental wellbeing.

All children should have access to the joys and life-enhancing benefits of reading. We engage children and families – especially those living in poverty or from vulnerable backgrounds – by providing them with books and reading support resources. We focus on supporting families with young children because early intervention is vital in developing lifelong reading habits. Big Give donations will enable BookTrust to increase our reach to more children who need help the most.