Chapter One, the UK literacy charity, announces a week-long Christmas fundraising campaign, which launched on 3rd December with a virtual event designed to help anyone looking to inspire a love of reading in young people this Christmas. The event marks the launch of Chapter One's participation in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, where all donations will be doubled for one week.

Give the Gift of Reading this Christmas with Chapter One brought together two experts in children's literature for an engaging hour of book recommendations and insights. Taking place online on Tuesday, 3rd December, from 12:30-1:30pm, the event guided attendees through selecting the perfect books for children from toddlers to 11+ years old. And you can now watch it here:

LoveReading4Kids' Deborah Maclaren shared recommendations for younger readers and provided expert insights into nurturing reading for pleasure from the early years. Chapter One’s Stephanie Lockwood draws from her extensive research with Chapter One's Book Club pilot - and her years as a primary school headteacher - to share recommendations for older children, with particular focus on readers in years 4 and 5. 

The need is critical: in 2023, 40% of 11-year-olds facing disadvantage in England left primary school unable to read at the expected standard, and research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children's reading enjoyment is at an all-time low. Chapter One's award-winning innovative solution pairs corporate volunteers with children for weekly online reading sessions, creating meaningful connections that transform young lives. Using a secure online platform, volunteers from leading companies take 30 minutes out of their workday every week to read stories and play literacy games with children who need extra support.

"This event combines practical guidance for Christmas book shopping with deeper insights into how we can tackle the literacy gap together," says Emma Bell, Chapter One's Executive Director. "It's a chance to discover books that could spark a lifelong love of reading while supporting our crucial work."

The event marks the start of Chapter One's participation in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, where every donation made between midday on Tuesday 3rd December and midday on Tuesday 10th December will be doubled through matched funding from supporters including The EQ Foundation, Clyde & Co, Encore Group, Lewis Silkin, Mishcon de Reya and T.Rowe Price.

Even small donations make a significant difference when doubled through the Christmas Challenge:
- £25 doubled to £50 provides noise-cancelling headphones for a classroom of ten children
- £50 doubled to £100 provides five one-to-one online reading sessions
- £225 doubled to £450 supports one child for an entire academic year

Event attendees received a curated book list for festive reads for the children in their life, which you can access here. You can also view the recommended reads below.

To donate to Chapter One's Big Give Christmas Challenge from 3rd December, click here.

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