Books for First Nighters #BFFN22
Donation protected
We have just one week to raise £6000!
Our GoFundMe is live from 18th-25th October.
Match Funding!
We are delighted to announce that Julia and Hans Rausing are generously match funding the campaign (up to a maximum of £9,420), so your donation will be doubled!
Who is Give a Book?
Give a Book is a charity that promotes books and the pleasure of reading in the hardest places.
Our core belief is that to pass on a good read – to give a book – is a transaction of lasting worth. We mainly work in prisons, schools and with disadvantaged children & young people throughout the UK.
What is the project Books for First Nighters?
In 2017 Give a Book launched Books for First Nighters, providing books for those on their first night in custody.
When a person is sentenced to prison, they are taken directly from court to a cell. No goodbyes. No time to prepare for, or process, what happens next. In this moment of distress and isolation, we give a book - a small act of kindness to offer comfort and company during a traumatic transition and ease the relationship between staff and inmates.
We provide a range of books to cover the diverse prison population and the broad spectrum of reading abilities and interests. The prisoner can keep the book as their own and take it to their designated wing if they wish. We refresh the books on the induction wing every quarter.
‘The first nice thing that’s happened to me since leaving court’ (Prisoner)
Why is BFFN so important?
We currently run Books for First Nighters (BFFN) in 35 prisons across the UK and have a long waiting list for more.
On average, prisons have 50 new arrivals each day, with prisoners spending up to 2 weeks on the induction wing. Our books have proven to be appreciated by prisoners - even those who are not readers - and have led to further reading in the library and participation in other reading projects.
58% of prisoners have a reading level of an 11-year-old. Below this level and they may not be able to understand:
• household bills
• labels on packaged food
• road signs
‘I believe that charities such as yours are fundamental, the positive impact perhaps not obvious to the majority and subtle in its nature. The progress is however immeasurable.’ (Prisoner)
Help us change the story
To set up and run Books for First Nighters on one induction wing costs £965 per year. £6000 will enable us to launch the project in six more prisons.
Please help us reach our target!
The Give a Book team has put together a selection of rewards:
Donation Rewards
There are a limited number of rewards for each donation amount.
• £10 = Tote Bag (x10 available)
Our Tote Bag reward includes a Give a Book eco-friendly Tote Bag with a bookmark and postcards.
• £25 = Quick Reads (x5 available)
Our Quick Reads reward includes the Tote Bag reward, plus a selection of popular Quick Reads books, as included in our BFFN book parcels.
• £50 = Signed Book (x15 available)
Our Signed Book reward includes the Tote Bag reward, plus one of the following books, signed by the author: The Pleasure of Reading by Antonia Fraser or Companion Piece by Ali Smith.
• £100 = LRB Subscription (x1 available)
Our LRB Subscription reward includes a one-year subscription to the London Review of Books magazine, kindly donated by LRB.
• £100 = The Oldie Subscription (x1 available)
Our Oldie Subscription reward includes a one-year subscription to The Oldie magazine, kindly donated by The Oldie.
Experience Rewards
For first donations only.
• £200 = PRG Session (x1 available)
Our PRG Session reward will include a visit to one of our Prison Reading Groups, allowing you to join in with the session and experience the importance and power of books in prison. (Subject to availability)
• £300 = Editor Session (x1 available)
Our Editor Session reward includes a 1-hour online editing session with Selina Walker, Publisher at Penguin Random House UK. (Subject to availability)
• £350 = Christmas Party (x1 available)
Our Christmas Party reward includes an invite for the winner and their plus one to the Give a Book Christmas Party in London (December 2022).
Thank you for your support!
Please Like and Share with friends to help spread the word.
#BFFN22
Fundraising team (4)
Give a Book
Organizer
England
Alison Palmer
Team member
Sarah Moorehead
Team member
Shamima Edye-Lindner
Team member