Swindon & Wiltshire News
International book charity relocates to Swindon
A leading charity dedicated to improving access to books and learning has chosen Swindon as its new base.
Book Aid International provides more than a million brand-new books each year, giving an estimated 21m people the opportunity to read.
Its new Swindon facility became fully operational in October and already holds more than 350,000 books.
Relocating to from London Swindon will allow Book Aid International to handle greater volumes of donated books and support more education projects worldwide.
A new team of local staff and volunteers is already in place to help deliver this work.
Alison Tweed, chief executive of Book Aid International, said: “We were delighted to welcome Councillor Robbins to our new warehouse in Swindon. This move has already strengthened our ability to reach readers who have few opportunities to access books, and our new team is working hard to prepare shipments for our partners across the world.
“Swindon has given us a warm welcome and we look forward to becoming an active part of the community.”
Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, visited Book Aid International’s newly-opened warehouse in Cheney Manor to see at first hand the scale of the charity’s operations and meet the team behind its global work.
“Seeing Book Aid International’s work taking place here in Swindon was inspiring,” he said.
“Literacy is a vital skill that opens doors for young people and helps create opportunities for everyone, which is central to our vision for a fairer Swindon.
“The charity’s decision to expand here shows real confidence in our town and supports our Swindon Plan commitment to attract new investment, create good jobs and strengthen our local economy.
“I’m proud that this global effort to improve access to books and learning is being driven from right here in Swindon.”
