Scottish Book Trust

The Scottish Book Trust is a national organisation based in Edinburgh, Scotland promoting literature, reading and writing in Scotland. Scottish Book Trust works with and for a range of audiences, including babies and parents (through the Bookbug programme), children and young people, teachers and learning professionals, writers and publishers.

Key Facts

The Scottish Book Trust invests £3 million annually to inspire and encourage readers and writers in Scotland. It funds over 1,200 literature events connecting 50,000 readers with writers through 'Live Literature' funding. It reaches every baby in Scotland through its Bookstart book gifting programme. It champions and supports over 400 Scottish writers and illustrators, and runs the biggest children’s book awards in the UK, judged by over 30,000 schoolchildren. It also develops resources to help hundreds of teachers and librarians improve literacy. The Trust's website promotes reading and writing to 20,000 online visitors a month.

Programme

Early Years programme

Bookbug, previously known as Bookstart in Scotland, aims to encourage all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible, so that every child in Scotland develops a lifelong love of books. Working through locally based partners, including libraries, health professionals and early years settings, Bookstart gives free books to all Scottish children at around:

8 weeks – Bookstart pack for babies
18 months – Bookstart +
3 years – Bookstart Treasure Chest

The packs are given with guidance materials for parents and carers, including advice on sharing books with young children, information about libraries, and materials to boost a child’s language, listening skills and early writing.

Children and Young People programme

Scottish Book Trust children’s programme aims to get children and young people excited about reading and writing. It reaches over 45,000 children across Scotland every year through live book events and reading and writing campaigns, which include:

The Royal Mail Awards, which is now Scotland’s largest reading campaign, involving nearly 25,000 children in schools and libraries across Scotland, reading and voting for their favourite Scottish children’s books of the year.^[1]
Scottish Book Trust also runs national events, including the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour, an outreach tour which has also extended south of the border with author touring programmes in north-east and south-west England. Scottish Friendly has also supported the 'Meet Our Authors' programme, which enables young people, parents and teachers to meet leading children's authors, be inspired, and boost their reading confidence and interest in creative writing.

Writer development programme

The Writer Development programme offers a range of professional development opportunities for writers at all stages of their careers. The Scottish Book Trust mentoring programme helps writers unlock their potential and move forward in their writing careers. Past mentors have included novelists Bernard MacLaverty, Alan Bissett and Louise Welsh, as well as industry professionals such agents and editors. Mentoring is also available for emerging authors, as part of the New Writers Awards.^[2]

Learning Professionals

Scottish Book Trust works with teachers, librarians and literature development experts to create learning resources, projects and events which promote literacy through literature. It provides resources and CPD for teachers based around its programme.

External links

References

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