Liverpool marketing agency gifts over 2,000 books to young people this Christmas

Agent, the award-winning Northern marketing agency, has gifted over 2,000 brand-new books in December – worth a total of £15,000 – to the young people who need them most as part of its annual All You Read is Love campaign.

Agent personally delivered thousands of books to children, schools, charities and other organisations across the North West in December, including Alfie’s Squad and Kirkdale St Lawrence primary school in Liverpool. All You Read is Love, launched in 2020, has now gifted £75,000 worth of brand-new books during the last six years, reaching more than 7,000 young people.

Agent partnered with specialist global book distributor Publiship for the third consecutive year, who made an incredible donation of books in support. Further incredible donations came from major organisations the agency works with, including Northern Rail, MSB Solicitors and worldwide IT services and consulting firm CGI.

And for the first time, the campaignwas backed by Children’s Laureate and award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, as well as the National Literacy Trust (NLT).  Recent research from the NLT suggests just one-in-three children aged between 8-18 enjoy reading in their spare time, which is a 38% decrease 2005 and the lowest score ever recorded, making Agent’s campaign more important than ever. 

Alfie’s Squad, who received their donation a few days ago, is a non-profit organisation founded by Alfie Fitzsimmons who lost his father to suicide at the age of 15 in 2017, inspiring Alfie to take action and make a difference to the lives of other children who have been bereaved by suicide. It is the only charity in the UK offering their unique support, with team activities that reduce feelings of isolation while inspiring friendships and increased self-worth for young people aged 6-17, as well as supporting parents and carers.

Alfie Fitzimmons, Founder of Alfie’s Squad, said:

“We are the only support group for children bereaved by suicide in the whole of the UK. I lost my dad, personally, and we have grown to over 50 children after starting in 2017 with just me and my mum.

“The children we support love coming here and All You Read is Love kindly donated over 100 brand-new books, to be gifted to the children using our service. 

“Everything is on a screen today; having an opportunity to get back into reading and find something they are passionate about is so positive, helping young people inside and out of school, not only with their reading but with literacy and confidence. 

“Alfie’s Squad are so grateful to Agent and All You Read is Love – this donation is so beneficial.”

CEO of Agent, Paul Corcoran, said:

“The North West is filled with resilient young people under the age of 18 who are often hiding in plain sight. It is easy to walk past them in the street without realising any untold pain they may be going through in their private lives.

“A book is a simple gift that can open a world of opportunity for a young mind. All You Read Is Love’s core aim is to help children on their reading journeys, and we are incredibly proud to have done this over the last six years.”

Find out more about the All You Read is Love campaign here.

All You Read Is Love was supported by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, read more here.

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