Company NUrn￿r. CE018909 BOOK CLUBS IN SCHOOLS Charity Number 1185409 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 BOOK CLUBS IN SCHOOLS Income And Expendi￿re Account For tha Year Ended 31 August 2025 2025 2024 Incomo 92.601 65.650 C081 of Sal•s 188.105} 180,7051 Gro88 Proftt 6,496 4,945 Less.. Administrab've Expens88 {4,6621 14.841) Surplu• on ordlnary act1v1t1￿ b•for• Int•re•l and olh•r Incom 1,834 104 Interest Rec8ivable 423 Less.. Interest Payab Surplu• on ordlnary •ctl¥Wo8 belor• tsx 2.257 104 Surplu• on ordlnary a¢tlvltle• aft•r tax 2,257 104 BOOK CLUBS IN SCHOOLS BalanGD Sho•t As At 31 August 2025 Notes 2025 2024 Current A888ts D8btors Cash at Bank and in hand 83 4.027 25,749 50.123 29,776 Credltorn: amounts falllng duo within one year 145,2181 127.1281 Net Current assets 4,905 2,648 Re8orv8• Retained Reserves 4,905 2,648 4,905 2.648 These accounts have been prepaffjd in accordance with th8 micro-enlity provisions and have been delivered in accordance wrth the provisions applicable to companies subject lo the small companies regime. For the financial year endlng 31 st August 2025 the company was enlrtled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476. requiring an audit of these ffnancial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 20C6. Th8 directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keep$ accounting records which comply wrth section 386 of the act and for preparing financial statements which give a twe and fair view of the Slate of affairs of the company as at th8 end of the financial year and of its profit or105s for the flnanci81 period 18 in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2CQ6 relating to accounts, $0 far as applicable lo the company. The financial ststsrrents were approved by the Board of Trustees on 1110312026 behalf. and signed on its Ilb O TRUSTEE TRUSTEE The nole$ on page 4 form part of these financial statements. BOOK CLUBS IN SCHOOLS Notes To The Financlal Statements For The Year Ended 31 August 2025 Aceountlng pollcl Bas1• of accountlng The financ4al stalements are prepared on the historical cost basis of ac￿￿ntIng and Ère prepared in accordance wlth the appluble Accounting Standards. Dgbtorn . amounts falllng duo wlthln one yur 2028 2024 Trade Debtors Prepayments Other Oeblors 3,253 774 83 83 4,027 Cr•dltorn . *mounl• f•lllng du• wfthln one y•ar 2026 2024 Trade Creditors Social Security and other tax88 Amounts received in advance 210 38 26,880 44,250 45,218 27,128 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Book Clubs in Schools, Charity number 1185409.** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Book Clubs in Schools (the Charity) for the year ending 31 August 2025. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act: or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning of the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is no t a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Ian Tackley Fellow of Chartered Association of Certified Accountants 34 Southdean Gardens London SW19 6NU 16[th] March 2026 ## **Book Clubs in Schools A decade of difference** Charity number 1185409 ## **Introduction** Over the past 10 years, Book Clubs in Schools has encouraged young people to discover the wider world through reading for pleasure. BCiS offers older pupils the opportunity to lead books clubs for younger pupils, facilitating an inclusive space of interactive and lively discussion. All the skills gained through Book Clubs, including oracy, leadership and increased confidence, are taken back into the classroom. BCiS have worked with over 250 schools and 40,000 students nationwide. Ali Palmer and Beth Ginsburg met at their children’s primary school. Whilst volunteering for a one-to-one reading initiative, Beth mentioned her mum ran a book club in New York in the public school system. Encouraging children to read isn’t easy, and this sounded like a fun way to get them to read and discuss books. As their children moved from primary school to secondary, they realised that there was a lot of potential to keep children engaged and interested in reading by making reading a shared social experience. The model evolved — with the magic ingredient of older pupils as the Book Club Leaders for younger children. Left to right - Katy Donnelly, Alex Wheatle, Beth Ginsburg, Alison Palmer, Jason Reynolds **2** “With older pupils as the Book Clubs Leaders, the clubs became truly interactive, inclusive and informal. Quieter children felt able to talk more freely. We discovered that when a child sees another child reading, especially someone they admire – a friend, an older sibling, or another pupil – they see reading as a fun choice. And when that person shares a book that made them laugh, cry or stay up past bedtime, it makes reading contagious.” BCiS Co-founder Ali Palmer, The BookSeller Article, “Kids inspire Kids”, May 1 2025 “It’s been a joy to watch the children grow through the programme. They’ve become so much more confident when discussing books and so much more opinionated. It’s really brought them alive, especially when it comes to their reading and ability to discuss the motivations of characters. Their engagement with text has become much, much stronger.” Tom Armstrong, Southmead Primary School **3** **Our Projects** ## **Book Clubs** Our core programme is delivered in secondary schools and trains older pupils (Y9-12) to lead book clubs for younger pupils (Y6-8). BCiS has created all the resources needed for the book clubs including week-byweek question and activity guides, posters, certificates and badges, and online training for the older pupils. Each Book Club meets over a term and all the members read the same book, with pages allocated each week. The question and activity guides ensure that the Book Club Leaders have a plan for each week. “Reading by yourself is nice, but also listening to other people gives you an opportunity. Because maybe when you read through it in your head, sometimes you skim through it really quickly. When other people read it, you really get embraced in the story”. Book Clubber, from Open University Research Report “Feedback from staff leading the clubs highlights the enjoyment and engagement students have shown with the selected texts, even among those who are typically reluctant readers.” Pauline Lawrence, Haverstock School ## **PRU and Alternative Provision** Our Pupil Referral Unit and AP work aims to combine reading and book discussions with activities - e.g. author workshops, animation or other creative activities which add significant additional benefits in terms of engagement. “You really have transformed literacy for our teenagers!” Bunty Dames, Francis Barber PRU **4** ## **Picture Book Clubs** Picture Book Club - a peer led book club format for primary schools and involves Y5 or Y6s leading small book clubs for Y1 or Y2s. We provide all the materials schools need to run a peer led book club in a primary school. Schools are supplied with a box of 15 picture books, carefully selected to include a diverse range of authors and styles - plus an activity booklet, stickers and bookmarks. “Picture Book Club was a roaring success. We couldn’t quite figure out who got the most from it – the Year 1 children or the Year 6 children. The younger children loved being read to and the older children grew hugely in confidence. There were so many benefits.” Michael Bradley, Headteacher, Merton Abbey Primary School “Picture Book Club is great. So far, my year 6 children have not missed a session and have automatically covered absent peers. It’s been brilliant to see their enthusiasm. They are a very mixed bunch too - some real non-readers!” Jemima Wade, Headteacher, Argyle Primary School usually reading isn’t included specifically in summer activities/ transition, and it really helped to put reading front and centre.” Ms H Swinyard, School Librarian, Greig City Academy ## **Summer Book Club** Summer Book Club makes sure reading is a highlight of secondary transition and helps establish its importance from the moment pupils start their new school. We provide all the resources schools need to run assemblies, send letters home to parents and a summer activity pack for pupils to use alongside reading the book - plus a live online author event in September as a welcome to secondary school. We have partnered with Walker Books so schools can purchase books at 50% discount, or a 99p e-book is available. **5** ## **Key Achievements and Milestones** ## **2014** ## **2015 - 2018** l **March:** Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS) launched as a Community Interest Company. ## l **Initial pilot programmes** delivered in select schools. “Provided young people with an opportunity to connect and make friends.” - l Expansion across London and the South East. - l Over **10,000** pupils engaged. - l Development of training materials, resources, and curated book lists. l Partnerships formed with schools to embed the programme as an extracurricular activity. - l Delivered pilot project in two Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), including author visits and animation projects. “Relationships within Book Club sessions were characterised as informal and inclusive… these characteristics were recognised as different to those experienced in English lessons.” ## **2019** - l **September:** BCiS became a registered charity. - l Began offering **free books and** - **resources** to qualifying schools with over 40% pupil premium through partnership with Give a Book. - l Introduced a formal training programme for student leaders and teachers. - l Focus on **inclusivity and diversity** in book selections strengthened. *Quotes from Open University Research Report **6** ## **2020** - l COVID-19 pandemic forces a shift to online delivery of book clubs. l Launch of **National Teen Book Club,** an online reading and discussion platform for ages 14-19, in partnership with Speakers for Schools. l All resources moved to online delivery so schools can access and run the programme more easily. ## **2021** “Helped to position reading as something worth doing” - l Continued expansion into the West Midlands, North East, and North West. - l Over **17,000** pupils have participated since inception. l Summer Book Club initiated in 150 schools. **7** ## **Key Achievements and Milestones** ## **2022** - l Returned to **face-to-face** book clubs post-pandemic. - l Secured new funding to expand PRU book clubs to run in four locations from September 2022. - l Collaboration with MediaTrust and Mercers’ Company to create a film about the programme. - l Sponsored YA category of the Diverse Book Awards as part of our commitment to sharing diverse stories. “Clubbers felt they were able to talk in ways that made sense to them, not in a ‘schooled’ way.” ## **2023** - l Expanded PRU book club programme to **7 locations** , broadening access in alternative education settings. - l Introduced **Picture Book Club** in 45 schools. - l **Summer Book Club – Year 7 Transition** scaled up with over **250 schools signed up** and - **12,000 pupils** receiving books to support summer reading and transition. ## **2024** - l Ongoing support from key funders including John Lyon’s Charity, Mercers’ Company, Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, Give a Book, and Brian Murtagh. - l Continued delivery of inclusive, peer-led book clubs in over 45 schools nationwide. - l Working with the Open University to research the programme. **8** ## **Patron and Ambassadors** ## **Alex Wheatle MBE** our patron, 1963-2025 Alex was always generous with his time and advice and was passionate about getting young people reading, which shone through when you read his ground breaking books and listened to him speak. He had an amazing ability to go into any room and connect with everyone. We work in schools and pupil referral units and when he spoke to young people who maybe weren’t having the easiest time at school, they knew that he understood what was going on for them. We are certain that his books will continue to engage and entertain children and young people for many years to come. “Alex Wheatle was a bright empathetic star in the world of children’s books, bringing his deep understanding about the power of stories to connect young people to themselves and to our complex world. Stories can make each and every one of us know that we are seen and heard. This deep connection to our stories matters.” ## **Sita Brahmachari** “I am delighted and feel humbled to be carrying the torch forward along with the wonderful author Tom Palmer to help continue the incredible work that Alex started to be part of a movement to ensure that every child has a chance to fall in love with stories, to be sustained by them and to help navigate their lives with all the opportunities and life experiences reading brings us.” ## **Tom Palmer** “I am so proud to have been asked to become a Book Clubs in Schools ambassador. Getting accessible books into schools and encouraging children to enjoy reading them for pleasure is at the heart of what I want to do with my life. So it feels like an honour. ” **9** **Case Studies** ## **Book Clubs in Schools: A Case Study** Pupils from Kings College School and Harris Wimbledon act as Book Club Leaders at Merton Abbey Primary School and Southmead Primary School, two schools with high pupil premium which means they receive books from Give a Book. The clubs met every week on a Friday afternoon to discuss a chosen book; with around 6-8 groups running at once, gaining social and communication skills whilst reading for pleasure. ## **Perspective of a Book Club Leader** “The bond I made with my Book Club groups was something so special and I felt extremely proud to be such an important role model for those children and it was so rewarding to watch their confidence grow right before my eyes… Friday afternoons were the highlight of my week at school; I honestly could not recommend Book Club enough. The experience was invaluable and taught me so many things about my own character such as to have patience, leadership skills and the impact of positive reinforcement on young children.” “A good opportunity to develop a profile and skills in leadership.” “They saw a real improvement in the children’s reading fluency and engagement with the book.” “A great experience teaching younger children in which some of them struggled with reading.” **10** ## **Impact at a Glance** - l 35,000 Book Clubbers and 5,000 Book Club leaders have participated in BCiS book clubs since 2014. 40,000 books have been read. - l 97% of Book Club Leaders recommend leadership roles to peers. - l a group discussion. - l 55% of Book Club participants report enjoying reading more. - l 67% of participants are more interested in what others have to say. - l 53% feel greater connection to their school community through book clubs. And the big headline for me, it’s about bringing the big beautiful parts of reading to the children in the school. You know, that real love of reading, everything that children’s literature can bring to them about opening them up to a wider world. ## **Looking Ahead** - l Continue to grow our diverse book list and resources. Micheal Bradley, Head at Merton Abbey - l Develop our PRU programme and support to schools. - l Expand digital offerings and increase school participation. - l Deepen impact measurement and evidence of outcomes. - l Secure sustainable funding to reach more young people! **11** **“Book Clubs in Schools build spaces for dreaming, well-being and making meaning for some of the young people who have the least access to books.”** Sita Brahmachari ## **Thank You!** To our schools, funders, volunteers, and young readers – your support has driven a decade of difference. Illustrations by @leannecoelhouk Charity number 1185409 ## **www.bookclubsinschools.org**