Four months after The Sunday Times began its Get Britain Reading campaign, readers have donated £50,000 to provide books for people in need and a further 500 have volunteered to read to children every week in schools. Like its six existing centres, these book banks will be based inside food banks and provide mostly new novels, donated directly from publishers, to those who would not be able to afford them. The funding injection has helped to pay for staff who liaise with publishers and food banks, and to train volunteers who work at the stalls. Sunday Times readers have also pledged thousands of hours of their time to serve as reading companions in schools through Coram Beanstalk, encouraging pupils to discover the appeal of reading for their own enjoyment. Since October, 490 Sunday Times readers have applied to become volunteer reading helpers in schools through Coram Beanstalk.

Source: The Times February 28, 2026 23:36 UTC