A friendly book club for disadvantaged children in Govanhill, a vibrant yet desperately poor area of Glasgow.

Aims: to improve literacy, create friendships and build confidence.

My name is Cadi Catlow and I'm setting up a book club at the beautiful Govanhill Baths in Glasgow, for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The aim of the group is to provide a warm, safe haven for the children once a week, where they can explore books, discuss stories and characters and make new friends outside of school and home.

There are already ordinary book groups running at the local library, however Govanhill Books 4 Kids differs in several ways:

• The children get to keep the books, therefore creating their own libraries and providing escapism from family stresses.
• The club targets children who find books and libraries intimidating.
• The club offers 1-2-1 reading support to any child who needs it.

The children taking part in the Govanhill Books 4 Kids Club will most likely not be good readers.  They may have literacy difficulties resulting from unstable family life or gaps in schooling.  However, they could also be excellent readers but lacking in confidence and support at home.

Any funding raised will be spent entirely on the following:

• Purchasing brand new titles each month.
• Purchasing Audiobook versions of the same titles if needed.
• Weekly hire of a bright, peaceful reading room at Govanhill Baths.
• Homemade snacks and juice.
• Support materials, eg personal CD players
• Preparing another Book Club.

If the target funding is reached, please please continue to donate.  Govanhill Books 4 Kids can only run for as long as I have the funds to do it.  My Project target covers all expenses for 26 weeks.  Every additional 100 raised will keep Govanhill Books 4 Kids open for another week.

If your generosity knows no bounds, I plan to start a Books 4 Families group too, aimed at children aged 3-5 and their parents/carers.

All supporters will get a Special Mention on our Facebook page and a lot of gratitude.

Because we want every penny raised to go straight into the book club, we have no material objects to present as rewards to our supporters.  We hope instead that you find the lovely warm glow of having done something really fantastic to be reward enough.

Thanking you so much for taking the time to read my project information.

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Cadi Catlow has worked with children from disadvantaged backgrounds for many years, providing art and animation workshops across the UK, Europe and the USA.  She is a keen reader and Scrabble player and has a reputation for Getting Things Done.

USEFUL LINKS:

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-blogs-and-press/news/132/

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/features/heard-about-glasgow-s-youth-literacy-it-makes-for-a-shocking-read-1.1010364

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