The additional funding for the Bookbug programme, which sees children aged birth to five in Scotland receive free books, was announced today by the new minister for children and young people Aileen Campbell (pictured), at a Bookbug event at Port Seton Library in East Lothian, Scotland.
The extra £450,000 will be used to extend the Bookbug programme across deprived areas and to pilot a new book gifting pack to expectant mothers.
The Bookbug ante-natal pilot will give expectant parents book of nursery rhymes and accompanying CD, as well as offering Bookbug reading sessions at ante-natal classes.
Speaking at the Bookbug event, the minister for children and young people, said, ‘It's essential we give our children the best start in life and reading with them from an early age is a great way of doing this.
‘Initiatives like Bookbug are therefore hugely important as they help and encourage parents to read to young children and that can help significantly with a child's development and enhance future life chances.’
Marc Lambert, chief executive of Scottish Book Trust, said, ‘The Bookbug programme aims to support Scottish parents in giving their children a life-long love of reading, and today's funding announcement not only enables us to continue this crucial work, but allows us to engage with parents from every area of Scotland.’
The Scottish Book Trust is a key partner in delivering the Scottish government's Play, Talk, Read campaign.
