Bookbanks – the charity that brings books to food banks – is set to open in South Leeds on Wednesday 1 July 2026. The launch of Bookbanks Leeds will give more families in need access to the life-changing benefits of reading and book ownership, just in time for the school holidays.
While new data points to a modest rise in UK children’s engagement with reading, it also shows that the disadvantage gap more than doubled in the past year, with reading enjoyment levels among those not in receipt of free school meals increasing more than among their peers in receipt of free school meals.
More research shows that low-income children – such as those whose families access food banks – can lose months of reading ability over the summer holidays, further widening the achievement gap between them and their peers.
Bookbanks currently distributes an average of 50 books every single week at each of the food banks in which it operates. Half of these are for children, helping to combat the summer reading slide as well as the national reading crisis more broadly.
Bookbanks Director Hattie Garlick says:
“During this National Year of Reading, Bookbanks’ mission could not be more meaningful or urgent. 1 in 6 children receiving free school meals does not own a single book of their own, compared to 1 in 11 of their peers whose families can afford school lunches. Books should not be a luxury. They are a proven path towards better opportunities and wellbeing and Bookbanks is helping more people access these transformative effects.”
Having already expanded into three new food banks in March, July’s openings will see the charity partnering with 11 food banks – a significant step in its goal to bring books to 30 food banks nationwide by 2030.
Emily Rhodes, Founding Director of Bookbanks, says:
“Since our launch in 2024, Bookbanks has given out more than 20,000 free books to people using food banks. With our current locations, we’re distributing around 400 books every week. These two new food bank partners will help us raise that number as well as reaching whole new communities in need.”
In each new location, Bookbanks partners with a food bank to create a vibrant weekly pop-up stall of books onsite. From baby books to poetry, via cookbooks and classics, most are new and all are free. A team of 10 trained, local volunteers – all of whom have a background in books and a passion for widening access to them – help food bank guests find titles that suit their interests and those of their families, and use the books to spark conversations too.
Bookbanks bookstalls also host regular events, including author readings, writing workshops and librarian visits, further transforming food banks into spaces to exchange ideas and inspiration.
From 1 July, Bookbanks Leeds will be open every Wednesday morning inside the Leeds South & East Foodbank’s Hunslet Methodist Church distribution centre, 31 Telford Terrace, Leeds LS10 2HR.
This post is based on a press release issued by Bookbanks
Photo: Founding Director Emily Rhodes (left) with volunteers and a guest at Bookbanks Lewisham, South London.
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