News

The Trustees and Volunteers at Own Books are delighted to announce that we have just been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This award is the highest Award given to voluntary groups across the UK to recognise their outstanding work and is the equivalent of an MBE.

All of us at Own Books are over the moon to receive this award and hope that you will share in our joy and honour in this announcement. Julie de Bastion started Own Books in 2014 after an encounter with a young girl who had never had a book at home of her own. The charity has now grown to be supporting 100 schools across the country, who receive books from our supporter World of Books on a regular basis. Children in these schools have access to free books to take home and keep. Feedback from schools tells us that this service is very popular and much in demand.

We are pleased to be helping to encourage a love of reading to children of all backgrounds and ages, without any discrimination. We believe passionately in children having books at home, sharing and enjoying them with their siblings and families.

Need a Video for your school assembly?

We have a specially commissioned 11 minute video that is suitable to show in your school assembly. It tells the story of Julie's inspiration to start Own Books and how to run the project in your school.

Please contact us for a FREE link and just let us know when you show the video.

Assembly Video Request

Are you sitting comfortably?

Once upon a time there was a lady who loved books and children, so she sprinkled them with magic reading dust and now they all have books of their own.