Fundraiser for booksellers affected by Covid-19 reaps over £100k in two weeks

A crowdfunder in aid of booksellers affected by the Covid-19 crisis has exceeded its fundraising target of £50,000. Penguin Random House pledged it would match donations, meaning over £100,000 will now be made available for hardship grants.

The fundraiser, which at the time of writing had raised £51,197, is in aid of The Book Trade Charity, "with the intention that the money is used for hardship grants for booksellers affected by the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and economic downturn".

Almost 350 individual donations were made.

In an update, Gayle Lazda, who organised the fundraiser, said: "We made it! We have just hit our fundraising target of £50,000!

"Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to this fundraiser and everyone who has shouted about it and shared so widely. We have had nearly 350 individual donations.

"We have been amazed by the support and generosity shown to booksellers and bookshop workers across the UK and Ireland at this difficult time. The Book Trade Charity is now hard at working allocating grants to those who need them, and the funds raised here will help many people in the coming weeks."

She thanked the Bookseller Association for funding and championing the initiative and Penguin Random House for match-funding.

"Hitting our £50k target today with their match-funding has meant that the book trade has raised an incredible £100,000 to support booksellers in need. All in just two weeks," said Lazda.

The fundraiser closed this morning (6th April).