Raising funds for BookTrust, ensuring every child has access to books & reading from the earliest years & Zarach tackling child bed poverty, giving children a place to sleep so they can learn & thrive

This is our fundraising page for Emerald Publishing's UK charities - Zarach and Booktrust.

All donations raised here will be divided between these brilliant charities which are rooted in helping children read, get an education, thrive in their learning, and build the prospects for a better life through literacy and learning.

We believe literacy is a pathway to changing lives. Reading is a fundamental building block towards shaping a child’s educational opportunities, employment prospects, chances in life, and builds emotional intelligence, empathy, and creativity. Yet, childhood literacy is in deep crisis.
Early intervention is critical. When children learn to read early, they unlock a lifetime of opportunity. That’s why we’re focusing on charities that support younger children when it matters most, to make the biggest impact.
Together, we can turn the page for thousands of children – giving them the chance to learn, dream, and thrive.

In the UK alone:
- Only 33% of 8–18-year-olds in the UK read for enjoyment – the lowest in 20 years (National Literacy Trust).

- 1 in 4 children in the leave primary school unable to read well (at age 11) – limiting future learning and opportunities.

- Disadvantaged children are twice as likely to fall behind in reading compared to their peers. Poor literacy is linked to lower life expectancy and employment prospects, making early intervention critical.

- 900,000+ children experience bed poverty (Barnardo’s No Crib For A Bed report), and 1 in 20 have slept on the floor in the past year (Zarach). Children cannot learn when they lack basic needs like a safe bed.