Free Pre-Loved Books for Local Kids This Summer

From 26 July, and for the duration of the school summer holidays, our ReUse Shop at our Kings Road Reuse and Recycling Centre in Chingford, will be offering free books for local children of all ages.

Research from the National Literacy Trust (Picton & Clark, 2023) shows that more than 1 in 12 children in the UK do not have a single book of their own at home. This figure rises to as many as 1 in 8 disadvantaged households and as many as 1 in 5 pupils aged 5 to 8. The free books campaign, which is organised by the operator or the ReUse Shop, LondonEnergy, aims to provide access to books for all children in the area, helping to keep them entertained over the long summer break.

At any one time The ReUse Shop can stock over 1000 books including popular recent titles such as Meet the Weather, Scientists Saving the World, Which Way to Anywhere and The Storm Swimmer. A number of classic children’s titles such as The Hungry Caterpillar, Paddington, Harry Potter are also regularly available.

Books will be limited to 5 per household and whilst the new owners will be welcome to keep any books they choose; it is also hoped that many children and families will return and exchange their books once they have read them.

Commenting on the launch of the campaign Katie Blowes from LondonEnergy said: “Reading is so important and we hope this campaign will help young children realise these language, literacy and emotional benefits. There is also a really positive environmental benefit in reusing books and toys that might otherwise have been lost in our waste bins.

If local residents have any books or toys that that would like to donate, we would be delighted to receive them either at the ReUse Shop or at their local Reuse and Recycling centre.”

LondonEnergy’s Reuse Shop accepts donations from members of the public directly at The ReUse Shop and at all six of its Reuse and Recycling Centres across North London. This includes most unwanted household items that are still in good working condition. The donations are sorted by LondonEnergy’s team before being delivered to the ReUse Shop in the company’s fully electric van. Once received at the shop books toys and other goods are subject to a final check before being priced and put on display for customers to buy.

In addition to providing free books, the campaign will also offer significant reductions on toys – all of which will be discounted by over 50%.

The Free Books campaign will run from 26 July to 31 August 2024.

For more information on the ReUse Shop visit https://www.londonenergyltd.com/giving-back-community/reuse-shop