Wimbledon charity launches Book Clubs in Schools Day
Wimbledon charity launches Book Clubs in Schools Day
A celebration of reading among children and young people
Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS) is a Wimbledon-based initiative that empowers older pupils to run book clubs for younger children. The charity aims to foster a love of reading among children and to encourage conversations around reading in schools.
Thursday 1st May will be the first Book Clubs in Schools Day, created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BCiS and to share the benefits that literature brings 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. Schools around the country are encouraged to join the online events and start their own student-led book clubs.
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. The charity’s peer-led approach allows children to discover a love for reading all their own, encourages a reading-for-pleasure culture, and fosters communication, leadership and confidence skills.
The National Literacy Trust’s Annual Survey in 2024 revealed that just 1 in 3 children enjoy reading in their spare time, but work from charities like BCiS is working to undo that. Research commissioned by BCiS and undertaken by The Centre for Literacy and Social Justice showed that from the school books clubs, 55% of participants enjoyed reading more, 53% felt a greater connection to their school community, and 91% felt more confident leading a group discussion.
Free resources to take part in Book Clubs in Schools day will be available to download here and authors are encouraged to support the day by posting #BookClubsinSchoolsDay social posts on the theme of ‘the Book They Would Buy Their 10 Year Old Self.’
