This week we’re highlighting Footballer, Marcus Rashford’s bookclub with Macmillan Children's Books. The joint mission of Macmillan Children's Books, Magic Breakfast and Marcus Rashford is to work closely with schools to get books into the hands of children from disadvantaged backgrounds who don’t have access to books at home to encourage reading for pleasure.
A survey by the National Literacy Trust in 2019 showed that 383,775 children do not own a single book.
The book club will see Macmillan Children’s Books donate 50,000 free books through children’s food charity Magic Breakfast to reach children in more than 850 primary schools across England and Scotland.
The 50,000 books will be divided between the primary schools Magic Breakfast currently supports, including mainstream schools, pupil referral units (PRU) and special educational needs (SEN) schools.
Quotes:
“I only started reading at 17, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality. I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table.’’
“There were times where the escapism of reading could have really helped me. I want this escapism for all children. Not just those that can afford it. We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments.”
"Encouraging children to find joy in, and celebrate, their differences is so powerful in today's society.''
Rashford’s first children’s book, ‘You are a Champion’, written with Carl Anka was published on 27 May 2021. It is an illustrated non-fiction book for young people aged 10+, to equip them with mental resilience and grit.