GIVE A BOOK
Registered charity 1149664 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register
Give a Book is a UK based charity that promotes books and the pleasure of reading in the hardest places. Our main areas of work are in prisons and with disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK. Our core belief is that to pass on a good read - to give a book - is a transaction of lasting worth.
Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity's unrestricted reserves stood at £125,659, of which £80,000 is retained for operational security, leaving £45,659 in free reserves. The charity reported a net surplus of £24,634 for the year, funded entirely by donations and investment income, with no grants made. The trustees confirm adequate resources for going concern, noting the work is entirely reliant on donations.
Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: four months of unrestricted expenditure (held: £46k)
“£80,000 of the £125,659 is the amount that the charity needs to keep running for four months should the charity not be able to raise sufficient funding over the year. The £80,000 gives the charity some security when planning for 2027. This means that £80,000 does not represent a free reserve. Taking this into account, the unrestricted reserves are £45,659.” — page 7
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Funders the charity credits
Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).
- The Crucible Foundation — “This short film, created in conjunction with Media Trust and funded by The Crucible Foundation, showcases the work of Prison Reading Groups …” (source page)
- The Charlotte Aitken Trust — “The Charlotte Aitken Trust is dedicated to the support of literature, writing and reading. It is funded by the estate of the celebrated lite…” (source page)
- RSL — “The RSL has generously supplied foreign language books that are needed in many of the prisons we work with. RSL authors also support us by p…” (source page)
- Wob foundation — “We are honoured and so grateful to be generously supported by the Wob foundation. This means that we can get more books into the hands of th…” (source page)
- M.L. Astor Charitable Trust — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Bisset Trust — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Blavatnik Family Foundation — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Bloomsbury Publishing — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Clarendon Trust — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Clothworkers’ Foundation — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Craignish Trust — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Drapers’ Charitable Fund — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Ennismore Foundation — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
- Eranda Rothschild Foundation — “And also thanks to M.L. Astor Charitable Trust, Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust , Bisset Trust, Blavatnik Family Foundation , Bloomsbu…” (source page)
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram · linkedin
- Adeela Khan
- ELENI MELEAGROU
- JOANNE BARNETT
- LADY CAROLINE WALDEGRAVE OBE
- SARAH MOOREHEAD
- SARAH TURVEY
- Selina Margaret Walker
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales
Income and spending
Common questions
Is GIVE A BOOK financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity's unrestricted reserves stood at £125,659, of which £80,000 is retained for operational security, leaving £45,659 in free reserves. The charity reported a net surplus of £24,634 for the year, funded entirely by donations and investment income, with no grants made. The trustees confirm adequate resources for going concern, noting the work is entirely reliant on donations. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds GIVE A BOOK?
Funders whose own accounts filings name GIVE A BOOK as a grant recipient include THE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION, THE FORTE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE ERANDA ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION, THE CHARLOTTE AITKEN TRUST, THE SHERIFFS' AND RECORDERS' FUND.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).