A Welsh scheme which provides free books to newborns will be saved in the short term, the Welsh government has revealed. BookTrust Cymru runs programmes that aim to help parents read to their babies and toddlers. A decision to stop direct grants risks leaving the poorest families in Wales without support.
“I feel really devastated for the children of Wales,” director Sioned Jones said. Parents told the BBC that the free books scheme helped them to better bond with their babies.
Funding was due to end but after a BBC News story about the cuts, the government of Wales has confirmed that it will continue. BookTrust Cymru said it would be “keen to explore solutions” to ensure that babies continue to benefit.
Thousands of parents receive the free Bookstart Baby pack which includes a free bilingual book and advice through their health visitor. The programme is run by BookTrust all over the UK and in Wales, it includes two free packs, typically one at the six-month health check and another at the 27-month health check.
“We’ve been doing it for a long time,” Jones said. “You have to build the skills, the practitioners, they have to understand the programmes they’re delivering. We do lots of research in BookTrust in terms of the evaluation of our programmes and the impact they make and we know they make a difference, not only in getting families reading but helping families with their Welsh as well.”
Grant funding for the scheme from Adnodd will come to an end in March 2026, while it considers how to commission literacy materials for children in the future.
“We will make sure the Bookstart programme continues beyond March,” the Welsh government however has confirmed. “We want babies and young children to have access to books so they can develop a love of reading from an early age.”
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