Funding and grants for books

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Does anyone know of any charities or funding bodies that a school I work with could apply to for funding to buy new books? They are still using awful old reading scheme books even with y6 and the pupils do not see reading as any kind of pleasure.

They are scratching their heads and the new English lead is full of energy and ready to tackle this. They just need a cash injection to make sure that new stock is high quality and enticing for the pupils.

Any pointers would be useful. In the south of England, if that makes any difference.

Just a hopeful bump.

I’m on the PTA of our primary and we funded £2,000 towards sets of group reading books for Y5/6 last year.
We’d like to be funding the fun things or treats but the reality is that all schools are desperately short of basics.
I haven’t come across any organisation or body that will help.

Our school did a fundraiser for new books, in partnership with our local Usbourne rep. For every £300 we raised, they matched it with books to the same value. It was very popular and raised a good sum, although I can't remember the exact figures. The school library was almost entirely re-stocked though, and the local charity shops gladly accepted all the books we were replacing.

Your PTA sounds fabulous! This is such a tiny school that the PTA isn't very active and is fishing for cash in a very small pond, but I think this is a cause to get up and fight for. That's very interesting about the reps from the book suppliers margin money raised - I will pass that on as a suggestion. Thank you both for replying.

Any other ideas, anyone?

The Foyle Foundation do library grants that a school can apply for. The Book People have really cheap books that are wonderful for the free readers and something even the smallest PTA could hold a fund raiser for.

Is there not enough money in the budget or is it that they have higher priorities?