Charity brings the joy of reading to Manchester’s food banks

In a city where too many families struggle to make ends meet, a new initiative is offering hope and inspiration through the powerful, gift of books.

Founded in London, Bookbanks has already made an impact in Norfolk and now sets its sights on the North, where it hopes to create a love of reading in communities facing hardship.

The initiative sees food banks hosting weekly pop-up book stalls filled with a wide range of donated titles—from baby books to poetry, cookbooks, and classics.

Many books come brand new from bookshops, publishers, and literary prizes, while others are generously given by individuals, including food bank visitors themselves.

Trained volunteers with a passion for books curate these spaces, creating an inviting atmosphere for discovery.

Over 5,000 books distributed

To date, Bookbanks has distributed over 5,000 books, with an average of 30 books given out per site each week.

The stalls also serve as venues for literary events, including author readings and writing workshops, further enriching the experience for visitors.

The launch at Manchester Central Foodbank on 2nd May marks the charity’s first step into the city, where over 1,500 people per month rely on the food bank for essential support.

You can check out their website by clicking here

Greater Manchester poverty statistics

With an estimated 620,000 people living in poverty across Greater Manchester—including 250,000 children—access to books has never been more critical. National research highlights that one in ten children in the UK do not own a single book, despite evidence showing that early exposure to reading is a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Bookbanks is spearheaded by Founding Director Emily Rhodes, a writer, arts journalist, and former bookseller, alongside Director Hattie Garlick, a journalist and author from Norfolk.

In Manchester, the initiative will be coordinated by Susana Sanchez-Gonzalez, Special Collections Reading Room Coordinator at John Rylands Library, with support from local volunteers, including staff from Manchester University Press and Hachette, as well as acclaimed local authors like Ed Caesar.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Bookbanks to Manchester, a city with such a vibrant literary scene and inclusive community spirit,” said Emily Rhodes. “We’re looking forward to working closely with Manchester Central Foodbank to create a space for inspiration, conversation, literacy, and community.”

Ben Warner, Assistant Operations Manager at Manchester Central Foodbank, adds: “We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Bookbanks to bring a new dimension to one of our foodbank centres.

“Making sure that our centres are welcoming and holistic experiences for those visiting us is vital. Reading and access to books offer huge benefits during early years and beyond, and we’re so pleased to be able to facilitate that for our food bank visitors.”

Bookbanks plans for the future

Bookbanks already has plans to expand across Manchester and the North, with a second site in development at Greater Together Manchester’s Social Supermarket in Miles Platting. The charity is calling on businesses, publishers, and individuals to support the initiative through financial contributions, book donations, and volunteering opportunities.

For more information on how to get involved, visit Bookbanks website by clicking here