Tucked away in a narrow close off the Royal Mile, the Scottish Book Trust headquarters is buzzing with activity.
Three weeks before Christmas, there’s a lot of work to do. The charity plans to distribute more than 19,000 books this winter across the nation.
By focusing on the places of greatest need — hospitals, food banks, and community hubs, they aim to ensure that every child in Scotland is able to take home a book this holiday season.
Every Wednesday, volunteers from the corporate world make their way to the building's basement, where they hand-wrap parcels of books with colourful Christmas paper, sorting them by age and genre.
This week, a group of employees from the Bank of New York’s Edinburgh office are on call. As the quartet cuts and cellotapes, they swap stories and sip hot drinks. Cheery Christmas music plays in the background (I am pleased to report that Mariah Carey was neither seen nor heard).
Warm lighting and comfortable seats provide a welcome contrast to the dreich and damp December afternoon up on the surface.
The room is incredibly peaceful, an impressive feat considering the amount of activity going on in the background.
Eilidh Cameron, the Trust’s fundraising officer, explained how - every Christmas - this basement becomes an engine room, fuelling the dreams and ambitions of children all over Scotland.
“This year, the appeal centres on the Very Hungry Caterpillar which is a beloved character. Beyond the caterpillar, our appeal is all about gifting books to children and families who need them most around Scotland.
She adds: “Since [2020], we’ve donated almost 300,000 books to people who need them most.
“Today, we’ve got wonderful volunteers from the Bank of New York who are helping us to wrap those books to make it extra special for the people who receive them.”
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Stephanie Hubach-Thomson, who works at BNY, tells me: “I’m here this afternoon to volunteer with the Scottish Book Trust to help wrap books to give to children at Christmas.
“It just makes sense. I know how much my kids like to read, so I know it's really important to share that. Learning to read and write, and helping imagination and creativity are all very important.
“If these books bring happiness, it's all the better.”
Cameron explains how the books will be distributed.
“The books will be distributed right across Scotland,” she says. “They are donated to community hubs, food banks, charities, children's hospitals, and also to local authorities.
“The local authority will then distribute them to a much wider group.”
A 20% gap in literacy between those living in Scotland’s wealthiest neighbourhoods and its most deprived areas has raised concerns.
And according to the most recent data, 27% of Scottish primary students are behind where they need to be when it comes to reading.
But is charity the best way forward? Volunteers gathered in the Scottish Book Trust basement aren’t so sure.
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“Why do we need to rely on charities to distribute books,” one notes.
“The government should ensure these materials are part of the curriculum”, one of the other volunteers says.
“But… there is something special about owning your own book,” the first adds.
Indeed, there is work to be done.
The Bookbug programme is a stellar example of the Scottish Government working alongside independent charities.
Backed by publicly-funded grants, every child aged 0-5 is eligible to receive four free bags of books before entering Primary 1.
Around 375 Bookbug sessions are held in libraries and community centres across Scotland each week, encouraging families to read together.
As Christmas approaches, it's incumbent on communities to help where they can, and the work of the Scottish Book Trust is a worthy way to get involved.
Not far from the charity's offices, making your way towards Edinburgh Bus Station (and then on to Glasgow), the shops are draped in tinsel and lights, the fun fair on Princes Street beckons amidst the growing dusk.
People bustle to and fro — the tourists, loudly pointing out various landmarks; families gathered together, celebrating the season; couples, enjoying one another's company while sipping cocktails or a beer.
A lone piper, stands outside Waverley Station, his bagpipes festooned with a single string of multi-coloured lights.
All of these were children once. All had dreams about their futures, inspired by the adventures of King Arthur, Harry Potter or the Gruffalo.
For some their time has passed, the joy of childhood, the joy of reading, will have slipped away. Perhaps, something of that magic can be recaptured this Christmas.
If you would like to make sure a disadvantaged child gets a new book for Christmas, you can donate to our appeal with Scottish Book Trust.
Donations support gifting books to families who need them most through food banks and community hubs.
To bring a child magic, comfort and joy this festive period, visit scottishbooktrust.com/donate
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