Children’s BookFest Announces Record Impact

Charity responds to a decrease in reading for enjoyment with expanded outreach and renewed focus for 2026

Children’s BookFest (CBF), the Chichester-based charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading, is celebrating its most far-reaching year to date - a year that saw thousands of Sussex children receive their own free, signed copy of a book, given to them by the author. This was set against a backdrop of alarming new research, showing that reading for pleasure among young people has reached a 20-year low.

In 2025, the charity delivered its largest ever Children’s BookFest events in Chichester and Bognor Regis, bringing authors, illustrators and poets directly into 36 schools. More than 5,800 books were gifted during the festivals alone – each one personally signed and placed into the hands of a child aged between five and twelve. A further 2,200 books were shared via local foodbanks, ensuring families most affected by the cost-of-living crisis continue to have access to high-quality children’s literature.

Since CBF began in 2019, the charity has now gifted over 30,000 books and delivered 347 author sessions across Sussex.

Book ownership remains at the heart of the charity’s mission. As Georgina Lippiet, Festival Director at Children’s BookFest, explains: “Too many children - particularly those receiving free school meals - still do not have books of their own, even though owning books is strongly linked with increased reading confidence, motivation and attainment. For many children that received one of the 8,000 books we gifted this year, that signed copy was the first book they could call their own - a small moment with a profound impact.”

A year of joy - and growing urgency

Beyond the schools programme, eight public events brought around 1,000 people together in 2025. Much-loved children’s creators — including Liz Pichon, Sophy Henn, Nick Sharratt and Joseph Elliott — delivered wonderfully creative sessions, while high-profile evenings with Michael Morpurgo, Kate Mosse and Kevin McCloud at Chichester Cathedral raised vital funds and demonstrated the community’s strong support for children’s literacy.

But the Children’s BookFest celebrations came with a serious message, as new national findings from the National Literacy Trust revealed a sharp decline in reading enjoyment, with only one in three children saying they enjoy reading in their free time - the lowest level in 20 years.

Georgina Lippiett, continues: “This has been a remarkable year for Children’s BookFest. We’ve met thousands of children, placed signed books into their hands and watched them light up in front of authors they idolise. But it has also been a sobering year.

While book ownership continues to be a major barrier for many families, we are now facing the additional challenge of declining reading enjoyment nationally. That is why our work matters. When a child receives their first book, you can almost see the spark ignite. It’s a moment of joy - but also a turning point.”

Looking ahead: deepened outreach for 2026

Demand for Children’s BookFest’s work continues to rise as more schools seek literacy support. The charity requires £60,000 annually simply to maintain its existing delivery - but hopes to expand so it can reach every school requesting help.

2026 marks the Government’s National Year of Reading, a new campaign led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust to tackle the sharp decline in reading enjoyment and inspire children and families across the country to read more.

Children’s BookFest intends to play a meaningful regional role in this national effort. In 2026, the charity will focus on targeted outreach, working more deeply with schools in areas of greatest need. This includes:

·       a reading-for-pleasure outreach pilot in collaboration with Chichester Cinema, tapping into young people’s passion for film and storytelling

·       a writing project designed to address the declining enjoyment of creative writing

·       expansion of the Foodbank Bookshelf, ensuring families have year-round access to free children’s books

Christmas Appeal: supporting the Foodbank Bookshelf

This winter, the charity is calling on the community to support its Books for Foodbanks Christmas Appeal, inviting donations of new books or funds to help keep the shelves stocked for families who rely on foodbank support.

“We know the difference a book can make to a child’s confidence, wellbeing and hopes for the future,” Georgina adds. “As the nation prepares for the Year of Reading and the launch of the ‘Go All In’ campaign, we want Sussex to lead the way. With the support of our community, we can place more books into more hands – and help more children discover the joy of reading.”