We’re connecting Manchester businesses with local schools to put books in children’s hands.
Right now, 1 in 10 children in the UK don’t own a single book.
For children on free school meals, that figure climbs to nearly 1 in 6.
In the North West, book ownership is lower than almost anywhere else in the country. And 40% of primary schools don’t have a dedicated budget for their library at all.
These aren’t just numbers. Children who own books are up to six times more likely to read above the expected level for their age. They’re three times more likely to say they enjoy reading. Reading for pleasure is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future life chances. In some studies, it matters more than family income or parents’ education.
Every child deserves the chance to fall in love with a story. Too many in our own city aren’t getting it.
That’s why we started A Chapter for Every Child.
What we’re doing about it
A Chapter for Every Child is House of Books & Friends’ school library sponsorship programme. We connect local businesses directly with schools. Together, we fund what they need most: new books, refurbished reading spaces, and libraries that children want to walk into.
Every pound raised goes toward stocking shelves and transforming tired library spaces. It funds the events and workshops that turn reading into something children look forward to, not something they’re told to do.
We work with schools right here in Manchester. We focus on the communities where the need is greatest. A single sponsored library can change how hundreds of children see reading, term after term, year after year. And we want to help as many schools as possible.
How your business can help
Sponsoring a school library isn’t just a donation. It’s a visible, lasting contribution to your community. Your staff, clients and neighbours will see it, and you’ll feel proud of it.
We’re also offering a 10% discount on books to sponsors, so your support goes even further.
We have three ways for you to get involved:
First Chapter Partner — £1,000 Help stock a library with new books chosen for that school’s pupils. Put your business’s name behind giving children access to stories they can call their own.
Library Champion — £5,000 Fund a meaningful refurbishment of a school reading space. New furniture, better lighting, a room children actually want to spend time in, plus a fully stocked collection of books.
Chapter Founder — £10,000 Transform a school library from the ground up. This covers a full refurbishment, a comprehensive book collection, and ongoing author visits and reading events throughout the year. Chapter Founders can have their sponsorship recognised within the library itself.
Because House of Books & Friends is a Community Interest Company, your support goes further still. You’ll also be backing our wider social mission of tackling loneliness and social isolation.
Every tier comes with a range of updates and benefits for your business. Just get in touch to find out more.
Beyond funding
Not every business wants to give in the same way. We don’t think you should have to choose between money and involvement. Here’s how else you can get behind A Chapter for Every Child:
- Volunteer your time. Help at events, read with pupils, or support our workshops.
- Spread the word. Introduce us to other local businesses who might want to sponsor a library. Share us on social media, or simply talk to us and about us.
Get involved
A Chapter for Every Child is proof that an independent bookshop on King Street can reach far beyond its own four walls. Every sponsorship, every donated book, and every volunteer hour brings us closer to a city where no child grows up without a story of their own.
Get in touch to sponsor a school library, or to find out more about how your business can be part of A Chapter for Every Child.
laura@houseofbooksandfriends.pro
