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Booktrust: NI funding for free children's books is cut | Booktrust: NI funding for free children's books is cut |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Funding has been cut from a charity that distributes free books for pre-school children in Northern Ireland, to encourage families to read together. | Funding has been cut from a charity that distributes free books for pre-school children in Northern Ireland, to encourage families to read together. |
Booktrust distributed thousands of gift packs for children each year, with the help of a £250,000 grant from Stormont. | Booktrust distributed thousands of gift packs for children each year, with the help of a £250,000 grant from Stormont. |
However, this grant has now been abolished due to budget cuts at the Department of Education. | |
The charity said Northern Ireland would miss out on free book packs that remain available to other children in the UK. | The charity said Northern Ireland would miss out on free book packs that remain available to other children in the UK. |
'Cycle of poverty' | 'Cycle of poverty' |
Booktrust's chief executive, Viv Bird, said the funding cut was "a great pity". | Booktrust's chief executive, Viv Bird, said the funding cut was "a great pity". |
"Encouraging parents to read with their children has been shown to be a first step towards breaking the cycle of poverty," she said. | "Encouraging parents to read with their children has been shown to be a first step towards breaking the cycle of poverty," she said. |
Last year, Booktrust used the Stormont grant to distribute 50,000 gift packs to homes in Northern Ireland. | Last year, Booktrust used the Stormont grant to distribute 50,000 gift packs to homes in Northern Ireland. |
They included picture books for babies and pre-school children, while three and four-year-olds also received pencils and drawing pads in their book packs. | They included picture books for babies and pre-school children, while three and four-year-olds also received pencils and drawing pads in their book packs. |
Booktrust said it was told its funding was being removed after Education Minister John O'Dowd presented his budget to the Northern Ireland Assembly's Education Committee this week. | Booktrust said it was told its funding was being removed after Education Minister John O'Dowd presented his budget to the Northern Ireland Assembly's Education Committee this week. |
Its staff said they would be "working around the clock" in a bid to secure alternative funding from other sources. | Its staff said they would be "working around the clock" in a bid to secure alternative funding from other sources. |
However, the charity has confirmed to the BBC that as things stand it will not be distributing any free books in Northern Ireland this year. | However, the charity has confirmed to the BBC that as things stand it will not be distributing any free books in Northern Ireland this year. |
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education has confirmed to the BBC that Booktrust was among a number of organisation whose funding has been removed due to budget cuts. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Education has confirmed to the BBC that Booktrust was among a number of organisation whose funding has been removed due to budget cuts. |
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