Inspiring Change Through the Power of Stories

Headline: “Unlocking the World of Stories for Every Child”

Image: Joyful children with author, holding books, genuine excitement visible

Impact Stats (visually striking):

• 32% of children enjoy reading (National Literacy Trust)
• 74% say they love reading after BookTastic
• 12 years creating reading magic
• A free book for every child 

CTA: “See the Magic in Action” | “Partner With Us”

Reading Changes Everything

A love of reading is the single biggest predictor of life satisfaction and success. It’s more influential than family background, more powerful than economic circumstance. But right now, that love isn’t equally distributed.

Children in areas of disadvantage have fewer books at home, fewer visits to bookshops, and rarely meet the authors creating the stories on their screens. Professional book festivals? Those are for wealthy schools with big budgets.

Until now.

Visual: Powerful quote overlaid on image, or infographic showing reading’s impact on life outcomes

 

Child-Led. Community-Owned. Professionally Delivered.

Three Core Elements:

Children Co-Create Their Festival

Kids vote on which authors and illustrators they want to meet. They choose their own books. They own their reading journey.

Impact: When children have agency, engagement soars. This isn’t reading prescribed by adults—it’s discovery driven by their own curiosity.

Communities Come Together

We bring together schools from areas of disadvantage, creating a shared experience and a wider community of readers.

Impact: Reading stops being isolating. It becomes something you do together, something that connects you to others.

Big Names, Local Delivery

We use our publishing industry connections and trusted brand to bring bestselling authors to communities that could never attract them alone. Local partners deliver with our support, making it truly community-owned.

Impact: Professional excellence meets local knowledge. The magic belongs to the community.

 

Why Our Model Works

Day-One Success

12 years of experience. Proven playbook. Comprehensive support. Local partners succeed from their first festival because we’ve done this before.

Economies of Scale

Our publisher and distributor relationships mean huge discounts on books—sometimes 50% off retail. Less fundraising needed locally. More impact per pound.

Year-Round Impact

We provide lesson plans and teaching resources so the magic doesn’t end on festival day. Teachers maintain momentum throughout the year, with a ‘soft launch’ that prepares children who might find festivals intimidating.

Local Ownership, Central Excellence

We leverage central funding to unlock local funding. The benefits stay local. The expertise is national. Communities own their festival while benefiting from our track record.

Real Evaluation

Every partner gets their own impact report using our evaluation framework. Compare your outcomes against other BookTastic festivals. Evidence-based improvement. Real accountability.

Proven Magic

Bedford: 12 Years of Transformation

Over a decade of annual festivals. Consistent impact. Deep community roots. Sustainable change.

Barrow-in-Furness: Immediate Success

First festival in 2025. Right-first-time delivery. Model replication proven. Ready to scale.

The Numbers That Matter:

• 74% of children say they love reading (vs 32% nationally)
• 2000 children transformed in each community, each year
• 2000 free books distributed in each community, each year
• 100% of teachers report powerful impact and request annual participation
• £16.50 cost per child reached for school-year-long programme

Central Excellence. Local Magic.

We Provide:

• Bestselling authors through publisher relationships
• Comprehensive playbook refined over 12 years
• All materials (marketing, lesson plans, evaluation tools)
• Book discounts (50%+ off retail through our distributors)
• Monthly support throughout the 12-month journey
• Evaluation framework for impact reporting
• Day-one credibility from our established brand

Local Partners Deliver:

• Community connections and school relationships
• Local fundraising (typically £30,000)
• Festival coordination (with our playbook and support)
• Volunteer recruitment from their networks

The Result:

Professional book festivals that truly belong to the community. Children who discover that reading is magical. A sustainable model that works year after year.

Partnership Investment: £2,500 annual fee for full Hub support + local fundraising for delivery costs

National Funding + Local Funding = Maximised Impact

For a typical festival (2,000 children) a £30,000 delivers:

• Transport for every child (no family pays a penny)
• Min. 5 bestselling authors brought to the community
• 2,000 free books (one for every child to keep)
• Professional venue and festival experience
• Year-round teaching resources maintaining impact
• Evaluation report showing real outcomes
•  

Built on Industry Connections, Driven by Social Purpose

We’re a Community Interest Company with deep roots in children’s publishing. Our industry connections give us access to the biggest names in children’s books and preferential terms with distributors. Our social purpose ensures those benefits go to communities who need them most.

We’re not reinventing the wheel – we’re taking what works in wealthy areas and making it accessible everywhere. Professional quality. Local delivery. Proven impact.

Join Us in Creating a National Movement

Our vision: A network of BookTastic festivals across the country, creating communities of readers in every area facing disadvantage. Using our central brand, connections, and expertise to bring the magic of stories to thousands more children.

Be part of building something that lasts. Support a model that will run year after year, that gets stronger and more efficient as it grows. Create a legacy of children who love reading.

Direct Contact: cic@booktastic.org.uk

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Corporate Partnerships

Headline: How Businesses Support BookTastic

Corporate Partnership Opportunities:

Financial Support:

• Multi-year strategic partnerships funding festival delivery
• Charity of the Year partnerships
• Employee fundraising matched by corporate donations
• Sponsorship of specific festival regions or author strands

In-Kind Support:

• Book donations from publishers and retailers
• Pro-bono professional services (legal, marketing, design, technology)
• Festival venue 
• Printing of festival materials and resources

Publishing Industry Partnerships:

• Subsidised author fees and travel costs
• Advance review copies for schools
• Author connections and booking support
• Marketing collaboration around festivals

Employee Engagement:

• Payroll giving schemes
• Employee volunteering at festivals (reading with children, festival support)
• Sponsored challenges (staff reading marathons, fundraising events)
• Skills-based volunteering (strategy, marketing, finance support)

Benefits for Corporate Partners:

• Association with joyful, high-impact literacy initiative
• Meaningful employee engagement opportunities
• Positive brand association with books, reading, and children
• CSR reporting content with measurable impact data
• Connection to creative industries and acclaimed authors

We’d love to explore how your organisation can be part of the story.

Email festival@booktastic.org.uk