Give the gift of reading, so children can thrive.

This December, Chapter One is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise £22,000 in one week! The campaign will help us raise vital funds for our Book Clubs for reluctant readers, to spark a lasting love of reading in children facing disadvantage.

The Christmas Challenge is a great opportunity to make a donation to Chapter One as donations will be doubled! From midday on Tuesday 1 December until midday on Tuesday 8 December, every donation made on our Christmas Challenge campaign page will be matched until we reach our target of £22,000.

Help inspire a love of reading

Finding joy in reading is crucial to children’s wellbeing and success. Multiple studies indicate that reading motivation and enjoyment are positively correlated with reading ability. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their household income.

But just 36.1% of children and young people aged 8-18 say that they enjoy reading, and around 1 in 6 children eligible for free school meals don’t have a single book of their own. By ages 8-10, some capable readers are deciding that reading just isn’t for them - depriving them of everything that literacy has to offer.

Our Book Clubs are here to change that. Book Clubs give reluctant readers a chance to experience reading in a different way: not as a classroom subject, but as a fun, social activity where their voice matters. Each Book Club gives children the chance to explore new books, share their thoughts with their peers, and shape each session according to their likes and interests. We provide enticing, decorated ‘book boxes’ full of exciting texts - updated each week in response to children’s interests and discussions. By engaging with these texts in a fun, casual setting, children get to develop their own reading identities and discover the magic of reading.

Here’s what children had to say last year:

"I used to hate reading, but the club makes it fun."

"At the weekend, three of us had a FaceTime call and had our own Book Club."

“Is there a ‘Chapter Two’ Book Club?"

"I told my mum about the book and how good it was, now she is reading it too!"

This academic year, we aim to reach 144 children through the Book Club Programme, so they can discover the joys of reading. With your support, we aim to raise £22,000 towards our Book Club Programme - enough to cover 108 places for children who might otherwise disengage.

How can you get involved?

🌟 Visit our Christmas Challenge campaign page and make a donation from midday on Tuesday 1 December until midday on Tuesday 8 December. Set a reminder so you remember not to miss your chance to double your donation!

🌟 Register for Chapter One's Big Give Christmas Challenge Festive Book Guide event on 3 December at 12.30pm. Join us and connect with other Chapter One volunteers and discover perfect books for the young readers in your life - all while supporting a great cause. Sign up here!

🌟 Help us to spread the word and share information about the campaign with your networks.

How your donation makes a difference

🌟 £10 doubled to £20 could provide children with a range of Book Club books, including two which they get to keep.

🌟 £50 doubled to £100 could provide six weeks of support to a child.

🌟 £100 doubled to £200 could provide a child a place in the Book Club Programme, covering 12 weeks of support.

By donating, you’ll empower children to become better readers, feel more confident in their reading abilities, and discover the joy of reading for pleasure. As their confidence builds, they become more motivated to read independently and more confident in communicating with others.

Your donations will be matched!

Donations to our campaign will be generously matched by the AKO Foundation, Clyde & Co LLP, Compare the Market, Euromonitor, HFW, and Taylor & Francis, meaning your money can support twice as many children facing disadvantage.

Questions?

For further information, read our FAQs and/or please contact: Chris Poole, Fundraising Officer, at chris.poole@chapterone.org