Dorothy Amery Readers Awards

Dorothy Amery Reader Awards

 

A recent survey found that over 380,000 children in the UK do not own their own book and with your help, at Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, we would like to make this number smaller.

 

You know that books have the power to transform children’s reading skills, enjoyment and mental well-being, as well as raising aspirations and widening participation. When we opened the doors to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, we wanted this to be at the heart of what we did, as Dan and I are both products of opportunities such as these.

 

Thanks to a generous donation from a friend of the bookshop, we are pleased to announce we will be launching The Dorothy Amery Reader Awards in late 2021.

 

Dorothy Amery was a Primary School teacher and English co-ordinator with a huge love of stories and storytelling. Her favourite part of the day was reading stories to the children. She placed enormous value of the importance of reading and the ways in which it can unite and inspire.

 

In 2019 Dorothy sadly passed away and while we did not get the chance to meet her, we were fortunate enough to meet her husband Alistair. Since the day we met, we have wanted to work together to ensure a legacy of reading among children in her name.

 

So, this is where you come in…

 

As a teacher in my former life, I understand the challenges faced by young people and educators today, with many families ‘Just About Managing’ and despite often working many jobs, not always having enough for extra. The Dorothy Amery Reader Awards aims to help support these children through the gift of books and celebration of hard work and achievement.

 

Each year we plan to hold a similar event but to do this we need your support. We would love to be able to support another 30 children next year and for years to come. Of course, the more we raise, the more children will benefit. Imagine if we could reach 300 instead of 30!

Funds have already been raised and successful nominated children will attend an awards ceremony tonight (23/11/2021) but now we need to think about next year!

If we reach our target, nominated children from Norfolk & Suffolk would work for 1 year with us as part of our Review Team. This would mean that we would receive a review of a book, photo of them reading or picture related to the book to display in the shop and in exchange, the child would attend an award ceremony at the shop and the ability to select £50 worth of books for them to take home and keep.

 

Many thanks to everyone who have contributed already to this year, without us even asking. We know money is tight so it has been one of the most wonderful things to have experienced in our bookselling journey to have had people come to us to want to share their love of reading with unknown recipients.

 

Leanne & Dan

 

Bookbugs and Dragon Tales