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Aldi is giving away 100,000 books to kids across the UK for free

The retailer says it wants to help more children experience the magic of reading.

Emily Sergeant - 1st July 2022

Aldi is giving away over 100,000 books to children across the UK for free this summer to help get more kids into reading.

Did you know that one in 17 children in the UK doesn’t own a single book? And more than one in four 11-year-olds had below-expected reading levels in 2019? On top of that, some new research commissioned by budget supermarket retailer Aldi has revealed that 90% of charity professionals believe that children’s reading abilities have unfortunately declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic too.

So, in a bid to help more children benefit from everything that reading has to offer, Aldi has announced it will donate more than 100,000 books to children across the UK ahead of the school summer holidays.

The campaign has been backed by Manchester United and England star, Marcus Rashford MBE.

Alongside the launch of the campaign, Aldi has also asked the Wythenshawe-born footballer and best-selling children’s author to narrate an animation called ‘My Reading Journey’ – which the retailer says brings to life “how much joy reading can bring to a child”.

“I didn’t read properly until I was 17, and I don’t want that for others like me,” Marcus said.

“The escapism and joy you can get from reading could have benefitted me significantly as a child, but the issue was always access and representation.

“Struggling to put food on the table, there was very little money left for things like books, so it’s great to see Aldi step up to address a growing need for access to books in communities just like mine [as] it’s important that children can see a world much bigger than what they see on their doorstep and that can be achieved through books.”

Read more: Marcus Rashford is publishing a children’s novel inspired by his time at school breakfast clubs

The books will be produced by Macmillan Children’s Books, and distributed with support from the charity Magic Breakfast – which provides nutritious breakfasts to children and young people at schools in disadvantaged areas for free – with additional copies also being donated by national giving platform, Neighbourly.

“At Aldi we believe that access to books, just like quality food, should be a right, not a privilege and every child deserves to experience the magic of reading,” added Giles Hurley – CEO at Aldi UK and Ireland.

“Not only are we donating over 100,000 books to children that need them, this campaign also aims to help raise awareness of the increasing number of children who don’t have access to their own books at home so those that are in the fortunate position to do so, have the chance to help too.”

Aldi is also encouraging the public to donate to help them provide books to a children.

Making a donation of just £5 means that two books will be gifted to those in need, and you can find out more and donate on the Aldi website here.

Featured Image – Aldi