Christmas Books Project

2023 Christmas Books Project

This Christmas, we aim to send books as gifts to young people and young adults (under-21s) in as many prisons as we can, across England, Wales and Scotland. Last year we sent in over 900 books to young people and young adults in seven prisons - we're aiming to exceed that this year!

The more money we raise, the more books we'll be able to send in. Ultimately, as our Christmas project grows each year, it's our ambition to get to the point where we could send books in for every under-21 in the prison estate across the UK.

You can donate to the project here:
 

Feedback from staff on our previous Christmas Projects

"Just thought I would let you know that one of the women who received a book thanked me in the library and said that she doesn’t read very well, but will give it a go. We then discussed Shannon Trust and she has said she would like to do it. So thank you for the book - it allowed the conversation and we have a new learner." (Styal)

"We have received your amazing books and are in the process of getting them out to our young people. I just wanted to say thank you so very much. Our focus going into the new year is our younger people, and how we can better support them. This has set us up to start this. I can’t tell you how grateful the first few women are to have received these books. One prisoner on our first night centre said that she had never had “a new book”. It is a privilege to be delivering these out, and has made a huge difference to a lot of people at this time of year, in very difficult circumstances. So again thank you so much." (Foston Hall)

HMP Oakwood (adult prison near Wolverhampton) - where we sent children's books for Dads to give their children on a Christmas family visit day. Staff feedback:

"I just wanted to take this opportunity on behalf of staff, family, friends and residents of HMP Oakwood to thank you and your team for the amazing work done last month with the guys from the family unit. The books were wonderful and the residents felt very privileged to be able to give a book to their children (as well as a selection box!) over the festive period."

YOI Polmont (Young Offenders Institution in Scotland, near Falkirk) - where we sent a selection of high-quality fiction books to young English students. Staff feedback:

"The books arrived and were fantastic – I say “were” as they have all been snapped up by grateful students. Our students were overwhelmed by the generosity of Haven Books for gifting them to Polmont - as I am. I note below a few of the student comments:

  • Wow – do you mean I can keep the book?
  • Can you pass on my thanks to whoever has given me the book – I really appreciate it
  • Oh this has come at the right time as we are locked up so much over the holidays; I now have something decent to read
  • An early Christmas present – wow!

"Quite a few of the students decided to take different books to enable them to pass around to each other once they had finished reading them which is great."

2022 Christmas Books Project

For our 2022 Christmas Books Project, we sent 940 books as Christmas gifts to young people and young adults in seven prisons (both male and female) in England, Scotland and Wales: Feltham, Parc, Polmont, Foston Hall, Styal, Aylesbury and Oakhill STC. This was made possible thanks to kind donations from generous individuals, and thanks to book donations from Penguin.

2021 Christmas Books Project

For our 2021 Christmas Books Project, we sent over 1000 books as Christmas gifts to young people and young adults in six prisons (both male and female) in England, Scotland and Wales: Feltham, Parc, Polmont, Foston Hall, Styal and Aylesbury. This was made possible thanks to kind donations from individuals and from Siobhan Dowd Trust, and thanks to book donations from Penguin, Walker and Faber & Faber.

2020 Christmas Books Project

For our 2020 Christmas Books Project, we sent books as Christmas gifts to young people in six Young Offenders Institutions (both male and female) in England, Scotland and Wales. We sent in over 500 books to young people aged between 15 and 21 in Feltham, Parc, Polmont, Foston Hall, Styal and Aylesbury. This was made possible thanks to kind donations from individuals and from Siobhan Dowd Trust, and thanks to book donations from #Merky and Faber & Faber.

2019 Christmas Books Project

In 2019, we were delighted to have made arrangements with Polmont Young Offenders Institution in Scotland to provide new books as Xmas presents for over 100 young people there. This is alongside again providing books for dads in Whitemoor to give their children, and also to dads in Oakwood. We would like to thank Siobhan Dowd Trust for their ongoing generous support, as well as all those who donated to the 2019 appeal.

2018 Christmas Books Project

In 2018, we again sent in books for fathers in HMP Whitemoor to give to their children, and again went along to a family visit day there. In addition, we also sent in children’s books to HMP Styal and HMP Foston Hall women’s prisons, so that mothers there could give books to their children at their Christmas family visit days. This was made possible by generous individual donations and by support from Siobhan Dowd Trust.

2017 Christmas Books Project

In 2017, we were able to send in over 100 books to HMP Whitemoor, for fathers there to give to their children at Christmas family visit days. We went along to a family visit day at the prison at which some of our books were distributed, to help support the event. This was all made possible by generous donations from individuals.

Image kindly provided by Clifford Harper

"Haven is a tremendous idea and the quality of your service, particularly with the quick turnaround, is first rate." Education Department - HMP Swaleside



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