Where We Work
Following the charity's beginnings in Zambia in 2008, we have sinced worked in India, Malawi and Ecuador. Wherever the Book Bus travels, we ensure that our reading schemes complement local curricula and maximise child literacy.
Zambia
Every week, we work with more than 1000 children to help them engage in the wonderful world of books across projects in Zambia.
Our local teams work alongside teachers in over 30 schools in Livingstone, Kitwe and Mfuwe providing reading support and literacy schemes that are improving the children’s overall educational standards. The Book Bus in Zambia also run regular reading sessions at community and public libraries in Kitwe and Livingstone.
Malawi
The Book Bus worked in Malawi between 2010 and 2020, providing literacy support to in-country partners.
We worked closely with local partners “Fishermans Rest”, The Lake of Stars music festival and a Community self-reliance project on the shores of Lake Malawi.
We concluded our projects in Malawi with the construction and successful handover of a Community Library to local NGOpartners Community Initiative for Self Reliance (CISER) in Mangochi.
Ecuador
Based at Puerto Lopez on the Pacific Coast, the Book Bus worked in Ecuador from 2010 to 2019.
Our Spanish speaking teams and volunteers ran reading and literacy schemes in five schools as well as a valuable after-school programme of remedial reading sessions for children struggling in the classroom.
Donate
Who makes sure we can fuel our buses, fill them with books and get children reading?
Only you – our incredible donors.
Your donation will provide books, library spaces and training materials for teachers and help 10,000 new children become readers by 2020.
Together, here’s just what a difference we can make:
A monthly gift
Inspire a child to read by providing quality children’s story books for a school library.
A one-off donation
You can use a debit or credit card through PayPal – it’s quick and easy and you don’t need a Paypal account.
Send us your donation by post
You can send cheques to us, made payable to The Book Bus Foundation, at:
The Book Bus Foundation
11 The Orchard, Montpelier Road
London
W5 2QW
(Please do not send cash in the post)
If you would like a receipt, just include your surname as the bank reference and inform us of your donation by email at info@thebookbus.org
Donate via a bank transfer
You can donate directly to our account by online bank transfer. Here are the details:
Name of account: The Book Bus Foundation
Bank: Barclays Bank
Account number: 03312909
Sort code: 20 48 08
IBAN: GB69 BUKB 2048 0803 312909
SWIFT: BUKBGB 22
Bank address:
Barclays
Leicester
LE87 2BB
Payroll Giving – donate through your salary
Also known as ‘Give As You Earn’, payroll giving is a simple way to make regular, tax-free donations.
Donate a car
Do you have an unwanted vehicle? You can use it to keep our wheels rolling through either Giveacar, a not-for-profit social enterprise, or the Charity Car scheme.
Giveacar will accept any vehicle, even if it’s not roadworthy, as well as ride-on lawnmowers, farm machinery, vans, motorbikes and lorries.
They’ll collect vehicles from anywhere in the UK, free of charge.
For more information or to book a collection visit giveacar.co.uk
Any questions?
If you have any questions, please call us 0208 099 9280 or email us at info@thebookbus.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
About Us
The Book Bus is a registered charity and was founded in 2008 by publisher Tom Maschler.
One in six adults around the world come through childhood unable to read or write. Access to books and opportunities to read are the factors that make the difference, unlocking not only a world of pleasure but a wealth of opportunities.
The Book Bus began work with schools in Zambia, delivering books and working with teachers and volunteers to help get more children reading.
Over the last twelve years, The Book Bus and its fleet of five buses has travelled 250,000 miles and opened further reading schemes in Malawi and Ecuador.
With help from our supporters, volunteers and teachers, over 100,000 children now have books. Not only have they boosted their reading abilities, they share their love of learning and literacy skills with families and communities.
We are committed to changing lives one book at a time but that is only made possible through your support.
Our Founder
Tom Maschler
Tom Maschler was a publisher for over four decades, working with thirteen Nobel Prize winners, nurturing writers who are now household names and originating the idea for the Booker Prize.
With a love and fascination for children’s books, Tom published Roald Dahl and paired him with Quentin Blake, whose illustrations contributed so much to the author’s books.
Tom’s inspiration to start the Book Bus came after a trip to Zambia where he saw that literacy was one of the key life skills that can take a child from poverty to prosperity.
Our Patron
Sir Quentin Blake
Sir Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s best loved children’s authors and illustrators. Quentin joined us first as a trustee in January 2009 and then as our Patron in 2014, we are incredibly proud to be working with him.
A tireless supporter of The Book Bus, we are fortunate that Quentin also personally designs and illustrates the artwork that makes our buses look unique and which delight children in every community we work in.
Our Trustees
Gerard Kelly
Jackie Gillan
Glenn Gurney
David Gordon
Huw Price
The UK Team
David Gordon: CEO
Countrywide
Monica Mulenga: Country Director
Bwalya Chimba: Project Coordinator
Josephine Sikute: Communications and PR
Kitwe Project – Book Bus George
Edward Sakala: Reading Assistant & Driver
Kitwe Project – Book Bus Sophie
Raj Mushili: Reading Assistant & Driver
Livingstone Project – Book Bus Charlie
James Lubinda: Reading Assistant & Trainee Teacher
Jackline Simabila: Reading Assistant & Trainee Teacher
Edward Sakala: Reading Assistant & Driver
THE BOOK BUS FOUNDATION is a charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. Charity Number 1117357.
The Book Bus Foundation was first registered on 21 December 2006. The Foundation files annual reports and financial statements with the Register of Charities in accordance with their regulations.
This information is available through the Charity Commission website: www.charitycommission.gov.uk
The Book Bus Difference
What we provide
– the right materials.
The Book Bus provides expertly selected reading and other stimulus materials to match young people of all ages.
We also provide activities and arts and crafts materials which helps build on learning and storytelling skills, develop vocabulary and most importantly of all, builds on a love of reading and discovery.
We have found time and time again that children then teach their friends and family to read, creating a ripple effect for the whole community.
What we do
– building the right environments.
Whilst providing just the right kind of reading materials is vital, so is working with and supporting teaching staff in each school.
The Book Bus is run by local teams. By understanding what makes each community unique, ours is a true partnership with teachers and trainers which means that our programmes are not only enjoyable but effective.
What we promise
– an ongoing commitment.
Since 2008, the Book Bus has focused on identifying and supporting communities that will benefit most from our involvement.
We understand the real difference a sustained and prolonged commitment can make. For this reason, we remain focused on providing long-term support for the schools and teams we work with.
What we measure
– a lasting impact
“My favourite book is The Hare and the Tortoise. I like the way the tortoise takes his time but wins the race,” says 10-year-old Angela Beaston.
Angela was one of 180 children on the 2016 Book Bus reading support programme in Mangochi, Malawi.
At the beginning of the programme, every child took a reading test and their scores were recorded. The same test was used six months later, with the children showing an average increase in reading ability of 35%.
Home
Reading transforms lives and creates opportunities for children and their communities.
Yet one in six adults around the world have come through childhood unable to read and write.
Since 2008, The Book Bus has worked to improve literacy in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador, providing books, storytelling materials and libraries for children and teachers.
As a result, some 100,000 children can now experience the joy of reading but with your support, we can do so much more.
