We’re thrilled to be helping to support a brand-new Children’s Literature Festival in Canterbury, a creative venture spearheaded by book lovers Rebekah (Bex) and Rhys Hughes, founders of the community interest company “Bookshop Crawl UK”.
The Festival, taking place from July 11th to 13th, 2025, is designed to inspire children to fall in love with stories – in both traditional and non-traditional formats – through collaboration, creativity, and education. By providing a space for young minds to explore the magic of storytelling, it hopes to make reading an exciting and joyful experience.
Shockingly, research reveals that only 1 in 3 children aged 5-18 across the UK read for pleasure regularly, with the South East having the lowest rate at just 33.9%. This trend could be attributed to the growing number of extracurricular activities competing for kids’ time, alongside a focus on targets in schools that may inadvertently turn reading from a passion into a task.
Bex and Rhys are determined to change that with the new festival. Plans include:
- Interactive workshops in reading, writing, and illustration
- Literary-themed drama performances to captivate young audiences
- Presentations from children’s authors.
Crowdfunding is already underway – anyone interested in supporting the Festival can donate to it at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/canterbury-childrens-literature-festival
In addition to donating, our club hopes to help in other ways, including providing some volunteer support as the event approaches. We’re also helping to spread the word about the Festival and raise awareness of the crowdfunding campaign.
The event has also gained support from others such as Canterbury BID and The King’s School, Canterbury; they would welcome contact from other official sponsors.
For more information, including a provisional programme, head to the Festival’s website
Facebook: Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival
Picture: Artwork for the Festival. Picture credit: Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival (with permission)
