• Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Bath Echo
  • Monday 16th June 2025
  • Subscribe
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Letters
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Jobs
  • Awards
Bath Echo

Bath, GB

  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Home
News Headlines
Business

SouthGate Bath donates hundreds of children’s books to local families

Friday 24th July 2020 Bath Echo News Team Business, Community

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share

SouthGate Bath has gifted bundles of popular children’s books and engaging activity booklets to The Genesis Trust to support families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some of the gifted books

300 children’s books have been shared with local families, including Gargantis by Thomas Taylor and Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, along with free activity booklets filled with fun and educational worksheets based on familiar fictional characters such as Alex Rider, Judy Moody and Maisy Mouse.

Grainne Moher, from The Genesis Trust, said: “It’s great to be able to offer our families the books and activity books, particularly now with so many children home from school.

“This has really meant a lot to us and we know just how much of a difference they will make to children in our local area.”

This new initiative is led by SouthGate Bath’s co-owner, British Land, and the National Literacy Trust.

It follows a long-running partnership to help encourage children to enjoy reading outside of the classroom and to provide them with the resources to do so.

Recent research from the National Literacy Trust reveals that children who own their own books are happier, yet 1 in 11 children and young people in the UK don’t have a book of their own at home.

With many children not attending school due to COVID-19, the project aims to help tackle the problem and give local families brand-new books and educational materials.

Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, added: “Encouraging children to love to read and giving them access to their own books is so important, especially at this particularly difficult time.

“We’re really pleased to be able to continue to work with the National Literacy Trust to support amazing local organisations like The Genesis Trust.”

As part of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, families in Bath also have free access to virtual storytelling sessions which support children’s listening and creative skills and help to spark a love of stories.

The ‘Young Readers Story Club’ videos feature professional storytellers sharing different stories each week, including award-winning children’s poet Dominic Berry and the storyteller Amanda Edmiston.

Local schools have been given exclusive ‘first look’ access to the videos before they are made available for local families to view on the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone website.

Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Books have the power to enrich children’s lives – they fuel imaginations, help children learn new things and support mental wellbeing.

“Yet hundreds of thousands of children across the UK are missing out on these benefits at a time when they need them most, simply because they don’t have a book of their own.

“By bringing the magical world of stories into children’s homes through brand new books, activity booklets and incredible storytelling videos, this initiative will provide much needed inspiration and comfort during a time of uncertainty.”

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share
Next article New partnership to help Bath's DHI raise money to purchase liver scanner
Previous article Face mask fines will be issued in "tiny minority" of cases says police chief

Related Stories

Bath Rugby fans line the streets to celebrate Premiership win
Monday 16th June 2025

Bath Rugby fans line the streets to celebrate Premiership win

Cycle path and crossings plan to improve Sydney Road LTN
Monday 16th June 2025

Cycle path and crossings plan to improve Sydney Road LTN

City sweet shop premises are repossessed over rent arrears
Monday 16th June 2025

City sweet shop premises are repossessed over rent arrears

...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow

Top Stories

Bath Rugby fans line the streets to celebrate Premiership win

Bath Rugby fans line the streets to celebrate Premiership win

Monday 16th June 2025
CCTV appeal launched by police after man attacked in pub

CCTV appeal launched by police after man attacked in pub

Monday 16th June 2025
Bath student spared jail after biting graduate’s ear at party

Bath student spared jail after biting graduate’s ear at party

Monday 16th June 2025
Cycle path and crossings plan to improve Sydney Road LTN

Cycle path and crossings plan to improve Sydney Road LTN

Monday 16th June 2025
City sweet shop premises are repossessed over rent arrears

City sweet shop premises are repossessed over rent arrears

Monday 16th June 2025
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
  • Back to top
Created by Media Bath - Regulated by IMPRESS

About the Bath Echo | Your City, Your News

We're your local independent newspaper covering news and events across beautiful Bath and the close surrounding villages. We're here to help keep Bathonians in the know about what's going on in their city.

Useful Info

  • House Rules
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Social Media Policy
© Bath Echo 2025. All rights reserved.
Produced by Media Bath Limited