The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said last week that the projects - Bookstart, a Booktrust project to encourage children's early exposure to books at home; My Home Library, a website run by the Children's Laureate, Anne Fine, to enthuse children about owning their own books; and the Children's Laureate scheme - will receive respectively, 500,000, 50,000 and 10,000.
The arts minister, Tessa Blackstone, said, 'I am delighted to award this money to three very important projects, all of which introduce more children to the magical world of books.'
Bookstart gives new parents a starter pack, via their health visitor, at their baby's seven-to nine-month development check. They receive two free baby books, an invitation to join the local library and information stressing the positive effects books have on children's literacy and personal skills. Bookstart has distributed more than 1.5m packs during its ten-year history, covering over 90 per cent of the UK.
Chris Meade, Booktrust director said, 'It's very cost-effective per person, but there is a lot of money to raise. It is good to know that because of this funding, we have got money for next year's planning.'
The Home Library web site, myhomelibrary.org, launched in March, allows children to download more than 100 bookplates to personalise their books, and to exchange information on bargain bookshops. Teamed with the charity Oxfam, the scheme aims to reduce the cost of reading to 'a matter of pence rather than pounds'.
The final 10,000 will provide the bursary for the next Children's Laureate when Anne Fine's two-year term ends next May. The honour allows the Laureate to pursue a particular passion or concern about children's reading.
The next National Bookstart Day is to be held on 11 October and will include book-related activities all around the UK.
