Thousands of preloved books for children to find new homes through Asda instore donation points in Scotland
The initiative enables customers across the UK to donate pre-loved children's books in-store, for onward gifting to families with fewer books of their own.
Article Source: Children’s Book Project
Last Updated: 17 February 2025 12:55
Asda today announced (17 February) that it is relaunching its instore book donation points across the UK, including all stores in Scotland, with the aim of supporting families in accessing books through their nationwide partnership with literacy charity the Children’s Book Project.
Over 100,000 pre-loved books have been donated by Asda customers since the launch of the partnership in September 2024, enabling every child in 140 primary schools nationwide to each choose and take home two free books of their own via a dedicated ‘book festival’. For many, these will be the first books these children have ever owned.
To celebrate the relaunch and the power of reading, Asda community champions will also be hosting reading activities and bringing ‘StoryTelling Magic’ to life in their stores and local communities in partnership with BBC’s Tiny Happy People.
The Children’s Book Project is on a mission to tackle book poverty in childhood. They take donations of surplus new and pre-loved books and gift them via schools, community groups and food banks to children that have very few books of their own.
From 14th February over 388 Asda superstores invited local families to donate any books they’ve grown out of, dropping them into a dedicated donation trolley hosted by the store’s Community Champion. Together the two organisations expect to give a further 50,000 children the chance to participate in celebratory book gifting festivals hosted by their school or community group, where they will be able to choose and take home, books of their own.
Book poverty[1] has a measurable impact on children’s social and emotional development, as well as their education outcomes, and the charity’s core mission chimes with Asda’s wider, ongoing initiatives to support low-income families. Through this partnership more children will have the chance to choose books they are excited about, to share stories with their wider family and to lose themselves in a story.
Asda’s National Charity Coordinator Carolyn Francis said: “Last year our customers donated over 100,000 pre-loved books across Asda stores that were then redistributed back into local communities. All children should be able to access a book without the cost being a barrier. Now is a great time for families to have a bit of a clear out and donate any books that their children may have grown out of which will then go on to benefit many other children in their area.”
Children’s Book Project Founder and CEO Liberty Venn said: “The support that Asda families have already shown for our work is incredible. It shows just how much parents understand the potential for the books they enjoyed with their children to make another child laugh or dream and to create shared reading opportunities at home. This exciting relaunch will enable us to reach so many more families nationwide, to help more children to lose (and find) themselves in books and to celebrate the role that Asda stores play within their communities.”
For full list of participating stores visit www.childrensbookproject.co.uk/ASDA
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Get the inside scoop on the Edinburgh International Festival this weekend
On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March, a large yellow ice cream van will be stationed outside the Usher Hall to give audiences a flavour of the 2025 Festival programme.
READ MORE
Timorous Beasties bring bold design to St James Quarter ahead of Edinburgh Style 2025
Internationally acclaimed design studio, Timorous Beasties is delighted to be part of Edinburgh STYLE taking place between 28-30th March in St James Quarter.
READ MORE
A Summer of Resistance at the National Galleries of Scotland
National Galleries of Scotland announces the unmissable summer 2025 exhibition Resistance, conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen.
READ MORE
Scottish youth hostelling charity launches initiative reviving funded breaks for disadvantaged young people and families
An organisation that runs youth hostels across Scotland is launching an initiative to provide free stays for disadvantaged young people and families.
READ MORE
Giant Lanterns to make long awaited return to Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo’s award-winning Giant Lanterns event is back this winter for the first time in six years.
READ MORE
Galactic Carnival Edinburgh set to land at West Side Plaza this May!
Get ready, Edinburgh! A brand-new, out-of-this-world experience is arriving this spring as Galactic Carnival Edinburgh makes its debut at West Side Plaza, Wester Hailes, from 2nd May to 25th May!
READ MORE
Edinburgh restaurant adds massage therapy to Mothers Day menu
An Edinburgh restaurant is adding a pop-up massage experience to its Mother’s Day menu to help pamper the city’s mums on Sunday 30th March.
READ MORE
TRNSMT reveals 18 big dance acts for Glasgow Green
BBC Radio 1 Dance is taking over the much-loved Boogie Bar to bring some of the best dance music to Glasgow Green this summer on 11-13th July!
READ MORE
UB40 ft. Ali Campbell brings legendary vibes to Kelpies Live at Helix Park
UB40 ft. Ali Campbell are set to light up Falkirk as part of Kelpies Live at Helix Park, marking a triumphant return to Scotland for one of music's most iconic acts.
READ MORE
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh welcome new Artist in Residence
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is thrilled to announce the next Artist in Residence, Athens-born ‘Constantine.. the Artist’, who will take up residency from March to May 2025.
READ MORE
Tourism minister hails adventure and wellbeing tourism after visiting Lost Shore Surf Resort
Tourism minister, Richard Lochhead, has hailed the success of adventure and wellbeing tourism in Scotland after he visited Lost Shore Surf Resort, Europe’s largest inland surf destination.
READ MORE
Dynamic Earth unveils new year round Annual Pass
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium is set to transform visitor access with the introduction of a new year-round Annual Pass.
READ MORE
Aldi calls on children to design a poster for food action week
To mark Food Waste Action Week (17th – 23rd March), Aldi is calling on children in Scotland to design a poster that encourages people to reduce food waste.
READ MORE
21 Edinburgh businesses shortlisted in the British Business Awards
21 Edinburgh based companies are among the 143 from across the UK now vying for the top spot at the British Business Awards!
READ MORE
Giant gold girder stuns Scots as competition heats up
With three 18-carat golden girders worth £10,000 still out there, IRN-BRU unveils giant hanging girder to encourage Scots to get on the hunt!
READ MORE
The Causey to host first free on street projection event of the year
This Saturday 22 March, The Causey will be brought to life by Folk Tales for New Scots, a one-off exhibition, live storytelling and on-street projection event.
READ MORE
Open To Ideas Residency returns to Capital Theatres, The Studio
Now in it's third year, Open To Ideas, part of Open@TheStudio kicks off its residency programme this week with the first of four brand new projects.
READ MORE
Citadel Arts Group Celebrates 30th Birthday
2025 is Leith-based Citadel Arts Group 30th birthday and the group are marking the occasion in Leith Dockers Club, their home for the past twelve years, with a special ‘Play, Pie and Pint’.
READ MORE
Family fun awaits at Vue venues across Scotland this Easter break
From Wallace & Gromit to Sonic the Hedgehog, there’s plenty to enjoy at Vue venues across Scotland this Easter break.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Zoo to welcome sloth bears for the first time
Sloth bears will call the capital home for the first time ever as Edinburgh Zoo works to build a new habitat for the vulnerable species.
READ MORE
Introducing Moment George IV Bridge: A new standard in thoughtful hospitality
Edinburgh's hospitality scene has a new landmark... Moment George IV Bridge isn't just another Aparthotel - it's a reimagination of what a city stay can be.
READ MORE
Walk for Wellbeing expands to Edinburgh to champion wellbeing in hospitality
UK charity Hospitality Action’s annual fundraising event, Walk for Wellbeing, continues to grow in its sixth year by welcoming Edinburgh to the initiative.
READ MORE
New sculpture encouraging more women to pursue engineering roles comes to Scotland
The sculpture, by acclaimed artist Kelly Anna, represents engineer Alice Kan who played a key role in the manufacture of the Covid-19 vaccine and will be displayed at City Art Centre.
READ MORE
Somewhere By Nico Launches Its New Latin America Inspired Menu In Edinburgh
Somewhere by Nico is launching its highly anticipated new food and cocktail menu, transporting guests through the vibrancy, spirit, and soul of Latin America.
READ MORE
Foodies alert! Loch Lomond Springfest is back
Loch Lomond Springfest, one of Scotland's biggest FREE food festivals, is back on the 5th and 6th April at Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MORE
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has curated a unique experience to help guests unwind
To mark World Sleep Day, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is introducing the Sleep Retreat Essential Spa Break, designed to help guests prioritise rest and relaxation.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival Programme 2025
Edinburgh International Festival Breaks Boundaries in a Year Exploring ‘The Truth We Seek', with 24 days of world-class opera, dance, music and theatre!
READ MORE
Paisley Food and Drink Festival has all the ingredients for the perfect foodie day out!
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next month and looks set to be the biggest yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before.
READ MORE
New arrival spotted in Edinburgh
The world’s fastest land animal is back at Edinburgh Zoo as the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) welcomed four-year-old Billy the cheetah.
READ MORE
Civerinos earns a place on the Time Out list of best pizzas in the world
Fighting off stiff competition from around the globe and coming in at a lucky number 13 on the list, Civerinos’ New Haven-style pizza grabbed the food critics’ attention for all the right reasons.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links