Reading Force is a registered charity (No. 1159890) and warmly welcomes help and support
We rely on funding, sponsorship and gifts-in-kind to make Reading Force available to every Service family in the UK and based overseas, and to continue working to bridge distances and to bring families closer together.
This is possible only through the generous support of others and we would like to acknowledge and thank all our individual donors, patrons, sponsors and funding bodies for their help.
Funding Awards and Sponsors
Annington Ltd
“We were impressed by the support Reading Force is giving those Service families dealing with the challenges of separation and by the simple premise that chatting about a book helps parents and children remain connected,” says Jane Harsham, Sustainability Manager for Annington. “When the charity asked us to help them fund the costs of an Ambassador for Scotland, an important element of the charity’s development strategy, we were delighted to help.”
Annington became one of the largest private owners of residential property in the UK following the purchase of 57,434 homes from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1996. Most of these properties are leased back to the MoD.
Annington were delighted that their nomination of Reading Force in the Soldiering On Awards 2019, Family Values category, has resulted in the team being selected as a finalist.
Annington have generously continued to fund the RF Ambassador for Scotland and North England through to 2023.
The Army Central Fund
The Army Central Fund have awarded grants to Reading Force to support Army families in 2017 and 2021. The ACF is the British Army’s “own” Charity delivering financial support, by means of Grants, for the benefit of All Ranks, their families and dependants of the Serving Army including Army widows and those supporting organisations which provide expertise and assistance to the Army. The ACF also supports the Army Chain of Command in all theatres as well as the Army Families Federation (AFF).
ABF The Soldiers' Charity
Army Benevolent Fund have generously supported Reading Force since 2014 on various projects, and has in recent years awarded the charity core funding, enabling it to reach and support many more families with its signature shared reading materials and to work with Army welfare services and other organisations to ensure efficient and far reaching delivery.
RF would like to express special thanks forArmy Benevolent Fund’s additional support during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Chelford House Christian Fellowship Trust
Chelford House Christian Fellowship Trust - have been supporting Reading Force since 2016 with a grant to buy books for Service families.
“We are keen to support Reading Force because of our appreciation for the Armed Forces, love of books and reading, and appreciation for good print! We only contribute to charities that we trust 100%, and that certainly applies to Reading Force.”
Oliver Allmand-Smith, Chelford House Trust
The RF team were thrilled that in early 2020 Alison Allmand-Smith ventured to the Arctic in a sponsored expedition to raise £3,000 for Reading Force!
National Lottery Community Fund
Babock
Heritage Fund
How KU support Reading Force
KU has supported Reading Force since its start. The Department of Academic Development and the Faculty of Business and Law have awarded funds throughout the project. Research on Reading Force has been included as a KU practice as research Impact Case Study and associated papers presented at several academic conferences.
Lest We Forget
Garfield Weston
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust runs programmes of funding awards from the Government’s long-term commitment to supporting schemes under the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.
Reading Force has been awarded grants for various projects since 2015. These include supporting veterans in custody, development of an early years shared-reading initiative to support families during challenging times, increased support to families during Covid-19 lockdowns, and organising book clubs to help reduce social isolation. A 3-year grant 2020-2023 by the ‘Removing Barriers to Family Life’ programme, is enabling greater awareness and reach for military families enabling them to take part in the RF shared reading initiatives
Supacat
The Veterans’ Foundation have supported Reading Force with grants to cover the costs of books and scrapbooks for families, collaboration with organisations to raise awareness of the initiative and to reach veterans and their families in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The VF assist people who are serving or who have served in the British armed forces, and their dependants, by advancing any lawful charitable purpose at the discretion of the trustees making grants to other charities who assist serving and former members of the armed forces and their dependants who are in need.
David Shaw, CEO and founder of the Veteran’s Foundation: ‘We are delighted Reading Force is helping armed forces veterans and their families to become excited by reading together. It will provide them greater opportunity and benefit others with whom they work or socialise.’
Bolt Burdon Kemp is a leading law firm specialising in securing compensation for those who have suffered serious injury, whether through accident or medical negligence. Their dedicated Military Claims team are passionate about representing veterans and service personnel who have sustained a serious physical or mental health injury.
Victoria Sedgwick, Solicitor in the Military Team at BBK, says ‘We have seen first-hand the wider impact an injury can have on the family, who often provide care, love and support during the recovery period and beyond. We are thrilled to be Reading Force’s first platinum sponsor and we wholeheartedly support the work they do to enable military families to spend time together during challenging times.’
BBK understand how an injury impacts not just the injured person but also those closest to them. An injury can often lead to a medical discharge and having to adjust to life in the civilian sector whilst also coming to terms with an injury and the uncertainty of what the future holds for the individual and often, their families too. The love, support and strength of family plays a vital role during this difficult time.
BBK are delighted to sponsor Reading Force which helps to keep military families close and connected during difficult times. As dedicated military solicitors we are excited to share this initiative with our existing clients and support the charity with their vital work, long into the future.
Grainger Plc is the UK’s largest listed residential property owner, manager and developer. As a leading, responsible and long-term landlord, with both experience of working with the MOD and commitment to corporate responsibility, Grainger is supporting Reading Force with the printing of scrapbooks. Grainger is currently managing the new housing development at Wellesley, Aldershot. This is an exciting development of 3,850 new homes on former army land adjacent to the recently modernised Aldershot Garrison. The development will incorporate reinvigorating former historic military buildings with leading-edge design, to honour Aldershot’s past but look ahead to its future.
The Army Central Fund awarded a grant to Reading Force to support Army families in 2017. The ACF is the British Army’s “own” Charity delivering financial support, by means of Grants, for the benefit of All Ranks, their families and dependants of the Serving Army including Army widows and those supporting organisations which provide expertise and assistance to the Army. The ACF also supports the Army Chain of Command in all theatres as well as the Army Families Federation (AFF).
Hampshire County Council – HCC has supported Reading Force from its start by funding and enabling the pilot in Aldershot, and continues to support the project today. We are working together to build upon positive impact in the Service community in Aldershot and the surrounding area.
Rushmoor Borough Council – RBC has supported Reading Force from its start by contributing funds to the pilot and subsequent activity. We are working with RBC to raise the profile of invaluable intergenerational relationships.
Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund – Reading Force was supported by the Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund 2013-2015.
Siobhan Dowd Trust – Awarded Reading Force funds to buy books for HMS Heroes groups in Plymouth and North Yorkshire who participated in Reading Force in 2013/4. The Trust aims to bring the pleasures of books and reading to children and young people. Visit the Siobhan Dowd Trust website to find out more about their projects.
Publishers
Reading Force is all about sharing books and we are grateful for the generous support of publishers. These are some of the ways publishers and publishing organisations have helped us:
- Hachette Children’s Publishing have generously sponsored prizes for the inaugural Reading Force Writing Competition, February/March 2022
- Harper Collins gave 50 copies of ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ for children at a special Reading Force family day
- Scholastic, Walker Books, Bloomsbury, Andersen Press, and Zephyr have given books for RF families to review for Army & You magazine
- Barrington Stoke gave us boxes of books for our Reading Force Roadshow
- For the last two years, at Christmas, the Booksellers Association have given us hundreds of books for children, including titles nominated for the Costa Award
We would like to thank Puffin, Macmillan, Random House, Usborne, Walker, Scholastic, Andersen Press, Bloomsbury, Red Fox, Piccadilly Press, Egmont, Oxford University Press, Frances Lincoln, Nosy Crow, Zephyr, and Barrington Stoke. If you are a UK publisher and would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please email hattie@readingforce.org.uk.
“We had so much fun when the postman came as we didn’t know what book Freddie would be getting …
…Reading Force sent us this book, it is the second book they have sent us now and we like how much reading brings us together at any time of the day. Mum also likes seeing Daddy reading to Freddie and Freddie pointing out things in the books. This is a lovely dad and son bonding time.”
The Jackson family
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