World Book Day – Thursday 3rd March 2022
World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. We will be celebrating World Book Day on 3 March 2022.
Our mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.
Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.
We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.
World Book Day was created by UNESCO on 23rd April 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. It is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
The first World Book Day in the UK and Ireland took place in 1997 to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading.
What World Book Day achieved in 2021:
- Over 2 million books were printed in 2021 giving children and young people 12 exciting books to choose from and own,
- 54k books donated by publishers were distributed via the National Literacy Trust to children least likely to have books along with 24k books to prison communities, 2.4k through Read for Good and 2.4k through libraries,
- 1 in 5 children receiving free school meals said the book they ‘bought’ with their WBD book token was the first book they had of their own,
- Engaged 133k children and young people online with our Share a Story Live digital events programme,
- We made an impact: 65% of early years settings and 70% primary schools said World Book Day is effective in fostering a reading for pleasure culture.
Research found that 96.9% of children have heard of World Book Day and children who participate in World Book Day activities are more engaged in reading and books than those who don’t.
Discovery Projects that Promote reading/writing and Literacy Skills
Discovery Student Volunteering Services has a range of projects that you can get involved with that promotes reading, writing and literacy skills.
Get Involved
If you wish to get connected with Discovery SVS, start volunteering on one of our amazing projects or ask any questions, please use the following:
Email: discovery@swansea.ac.uk
Website: www.discoverysvs.org
Facebook: Discovery SVS
Instagram: Discovery SVS
Twitter: @DiscoverySVS
LinkedIn: discovery-student-volunteering-swansea/