Thread by @Leilah_Makes

PLEASE READ THIS. This is a call for your help, children's publishing, from my good friends at @GrimmAndCo:

"We are a literacy charity based in Rotherham, aiming to raise confidence, self esteem and self belief in children and young people.  (1/13)

“According to recent Reading Agency information (readingagency.org.uk/about/impact/0…), by the final year of compulsory schooling, the reading skills of English children from disadvantaged backgrounds are on average two and a half years behind those from the most affluent homes. (2/13)

"Studies have shown that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations. (3/13)

"According to the National Literacy Trust, one in 11 (9.4%) children and young people said they do not have a book of their own at home, rising to one in eight (13.1%) children from disadvantaged backgrounds. (4/13)

"Of these children, those who receive free school meals, boys of all ages and teenagers are the most likely to say they have no books of their own at home. (5/13)

"Ferham, East Herringthorpe, Eastwood Village and Canklow are areas of Rotherham that have been identified as being in the top 1% of the UK’s most deprived communities. (6/13)

"Pockets in other areas across the borough were highlighted but are small in relation to the deprivation surrounding the town centre. (7/13)

"We have a Forgotten Library within the apothecary, encouraging all visitors (children and adults) to take a donated book to borrow or keep for themselves. (8/13)

INTERLUDE: If I've ever asked an author to sign a book "To the Forgotten Library at Grimm & Co." this is where it goes. (Thank you, @moontrug, @AndyStanton15, @matthaig1, @CressidaCowell, @chrismouldink, @RobBiddulph, @Baddiel, @radioleary and many, many more.)

"However, at Christmas, we'd like to develop this by offering a brand new Christmas themed book to children and young people, wrapped and delivered by Father Christmas himself. (9/13)

"We will also be contacting Barnados to offer places to the vulnerable children within their care before they go out to the general public. (10/13)

"We are hoping to reach 75-100 children, ranging 2-14 years, so I am appealing for any help that you can give regarding this.  We will be giving books out on Sat 8th and 15th of Dec, although there is flexibility on this with regard to the children connected to Barnardos.(11/13)

"We are also launching a Christmas campaign today for journals that we can wrap and give to the older children.  We have found that journalling helps young people to express their feelings and deal with difficult situations and emotions, using it as a tool for resilience.(12/13)

"We would like this to work in conjunction with any donations of books we receive.

Any help that you can offer would be much appreciated."

Louise Treloar
Communications Coordinator Grimm & Co.

Charity number: 1154990, Company number:  8765731

(13/13)

PLEASE, publishers, if you can spare a jiffy of books for a worthy cause, send it to:

Grimm & Co., 2 Doncaster Gate,
Rotherham S65 1DJ.

You can read more about the wonderful work they do, and see pictures of this magical place here:

grimmandco.co.uk

THANK YOU.