Firm urges fellow Bondholders to back children’s book appeal

Cosy Direct is urging fellow Marketing Derby Bondholders to get behind a biannual appeal organised by Derby Book Festival for unwanted children’s books.

The appeal collects good quality, pre-loved children’s books and redistributes them through schools, nurseries, childminders and charities – including Derby Kids’ Camp.

To date, over 16,000 books have been donated across the city by businesses and individuals.

This year, the Derby Book Festival’s Children’s Book Appeal will return, coinciding with the festival’s ‘summer edition’, which takes place from 22 to 31 May.

As one of the festival’s main sponsors, Cosy has been closely involved in supporting its work for a number of years and has become a regular collection point, running internal book collections at least twice a year.

It is now encouraging more businesses to support the appeal, by hosting in-house book collections, after seeing the difference the initiative makes to children across the city – and to its own team.

The team at Derby Book Festival provide everything needed to make it possible – supplying a collection box and publicity posters and collecting the donations at the end of the appeal.

Collections can be linked to volunteering days and wider social value activity, giving teams a shared purpose and a visible sense of contribution.

Peter Ellse, chief executive of Cosy, said: “At Cosy, everything we do is centred around giving children the best possible start, so supporting Derby Book Festival’s Children’s Book Appeal is incredibly important to us.

“It is a simple idea, but the impact is huge. By collecting books through the workplace, businesses can help put stories into the hands of children who may not have books at home, while also giving their teams a chance to come together around something genuinely worthwhile.

“It is good for the community, and it is good for company culture too.”

Professor Keith McLay, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Derby and Derby Book Festival chair, said: “Books spark imagination, build empathy and improve focus.

“They help children expand their vocabulary and develop critical thinking skills.

“Reading is a fun, relaxing and healthy way to explore new worlds, but we know that not every child is lucky enough to have access to books at home.

“Through this appeal, we hope to give every child in the city a book of their own.”

To host a Children’s Book Appeal collection – or to make a monetary donation – e-mail lucy@derbybookfestival.co.uk.