New chapter for children's books in hospitals

Staff from MCBF presented the charity with a cheque for £1,274.54

A PARTNERSHIP between the Manchester Children’s Book Festival and charity ReadWell has resulted in hundreds of brand new children’s books winging their way onto the wards and into the hospital school rooms at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The Festival, which is run by the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, chose ReadWell as its charity partner for this year’s festival. This involved fundraising for ReadWell’s work in Manchester at the festival, while also bringing its headline authors to inspire children at the hospital. Through the course of the festival, £1,274.54 was raised for the cause. 

ReadWell officially launched in Manchester in June during MCBF after the hospital successfully applied to join the scheme.

The charity supplies 120 free, brand new books to the hospital every six weeks via its distinctive, mobile orange bookcase. Working through the hospital school, ReadWell also funds regular visits by professional storytellers.

Simple and clever

ReadWell Manager, Vicky Pember said: “Our charity is entirely funded by donations so MCBF’s fundraising at the festival was amazing. The festival harnessed an impressive army of volunteers, including many students from Manchester Metropolitan University.”

The Festival team at MMU plan to continue to support the Readwell campaign again next year and students and staff are already coming up with creative fundraising ideas. 

Festival Director Kaye Tew said: “ReadWell gets books to children in hospital at a time when the power of a good book to entertain, inspire or distract is keenly felt. It’s a simple, but clever idea and one we’re delighted to support in Manchester.”

ReadWell will be in all 30 of the UK’s major children’s hospitals by August 2015.