World Book Day – and all year round...
Craigmillar Literacy Trust (CLT) was established in 1998 to provide literacy support to babies, children, young people, parents, carers, and other adults.
Craigmillar in Edinburgh faces significant economic and social challenges and has long experienced lower educational attainment and literacy levels compared to national averages.
According to the 2022 Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), Craigmillar and its surrounding areas, including Niddrie, Bingham, and Magdalene, are ranked among the most deprived in Edinburgh. CLT operates in community settings such as libraries, GP practices, community centres, and parks and works with health visitors, speech and language therapists, early years practitioners, librarians, schools, and community groups.
Back in 2024, Craigmillar Literacy Trust was delighted to receive a grant of £2,000 from the Dickon Trust Fund to gift books to babies, children, young people and families in the lead up to Christmas. Books were shared through several activities, including 60 gifted at the Books for Babies Christmas party, 40 distributed during home visits with families, Health Visitors were able to pass on a further 25 books to families, 40 given out at a festive community drop-in, and the Family Literacy Group shared another 20 books.
The project also benefited from several positive experiences that helped extend the impact of the funding. The Edinburgh Bookshop has supported the organisation for some time, offering a 40% discount on purchases, free postage, hosting a collection tin in the shop, and helping to source books for World Book Day distributions.
In November 2024, The Trust approached the bookshop with the idea of running a “Buy a book, gift a book” initiative. Customers were invited to purchase an additional book in store and donate it to support families in Craigmillar. The response exceeded all expectations. More than 100 books were donated, alongside £300 in vouchers.
As a result, fewer books needed to be purchased for Christmas 2024 than originally anticipated. This allowed The Trust to use the remaining grant to extend book gifting into other events in 2025, including at a community festival during the summer and Christmas 2025. Books are gifted at all December events and during home visits with families who are referred by local Health Visitors and Speech and Language Therapists. During these visits, books are offered not only to the child receiving support but also to their siblings, both older and younger, helping to encourage reading across the whole family.
Sharing books is a key part of The Trust’s work. It helps families feel supported and valued, while also highlighting the important role that books, stories and reading play in helping children develop and reach their potential. By introducing books from a very early age, there's an opportunity to share the joy of books and support children through their journey by creating a literacy rich community for them.
The Trust also recently received a £5,000 unrestricted award from the McNab Family Fund to continue to help families have access to books at home which many do not have due to poverty and a generational gap in being to as children.
Some quotes from families:
“My son just loves his book club with you guys. Definitely the highlight of our week.”
“I think the group is great. It's been a really nice thing to do together and we love that it is on a Friday afternoon. She is really enjoying it and really loves the stories and the craft."
“My son has learnt so much too and I can see how he has grown his love for books, Thanks for creating a welcoming environment for us mums. I would have really struggled without this.”
“Another wonderful morning. Thank you so much. My son loves his new book and star!”
“What a great session today. She loves her new book (Peekaboo) and teddy. Thank you.”
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