Bookbanks is coming to Ipswich

Bookbanks – the charity that brings books to food banks – is set to open in two new locations on 1st July. The launch of  Bookbanks Ipswich sees the charity expand into new parts of the UK, giving more communities in need access to the life-changing benefits of reading and book ownership in time for the school summer holidays.

Research shows that while some children make reading gains over the summer, low-income students – such as those whose families access food banks – can lose two months or more of reading ability. This ‘summer reading slump’ widens the achievement gap over time. Of the 50 books Bookbanks distributes each week at each of its locations, half are for children, helping to combat the summer reading slump as well as the national reading crisis more broadly.

Bookbank Ipswich

15a Dickens Road Ipswich IP2 0JR

Books can take readers on many extraordinary journeys. One could be a path to a better future. Inside our 9 partner food banks, we create weekly pop-up stalls of free - often new - books. We aim to be in 30 food banks, nationwide, by 2030.

Bookbanks Director Hattie Garlick says: “During this National Year of Reading, Bookbanks mission could not be more meaningful or urgent. 1 in 6 children receiving Free School Meals does not own a single book of their own, compared to 1 in 11 of their peers whose families can afford school lunches. Books should not be a luxury. They are a proven path towards better opportunities and wellbeing and Bookbanks is helping more people access these transformative effects.”

In each new location, Bookbanks partners with a food bank to create a vibrant weekly pop-up stall of books onsite. From baby books to poetry, via cookbooks and classics, most are new and all are free. A team of 10 local volunteers, all of whom have a background in books and a passion for widening access to them, help food bank guests find titles that suit their interests and those of their families. The charity trains them to use books to spark conversations too.

The bookstalls also host regular events, including author readings, writing workshops and librarian visits, further transforming food banks into spaces to exchange ideas and inspiration.

From 1st July, Bookbanks Ipswich (which will also run on Wednesday mornings) will be located inside the Triangle Church Top-Up Shop.

Become a Bookbank Volunteer

Bookbanks is currently recruiting local volunteers for both sites, and applications are welcome.

Having already expanded into three new food banks in March, July’s openings will see the charity partnering with 11 food banks – a significant step in its goal to bring books to 30 food banks nationwide by 2030.

Emily Rhodes, Founding Director of Bookbanks, says: “Since our launch in 2024, Bookbanks has given out more than 20,000 free books to people using food banks . With our current nine locations, we’re distributing around 400 books every week. These two new food bank partners will help us raise that number as well as reaching whole new communities in need.”

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Press Team

The Ipswich.love Press Team are a small group who post press release information in an easy-to-read format. If you have a press release you'd like covered on the site get in touch.