PLS and Halstan get 16,000 books into the hands of displaced Ukrainian children

Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS) and book print specialists Halstan have together funded and produced 16,000 Ukrainian language books for refugee children arriving into the UK.

The initiative forms part of the Ukrainian government’s "Books Without Borders" initiative, which has been organised in the UK by the Ukrainian Embassy. It was created under the patronage of Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, and has been able to print and distribute books to Ukrainian refugee children across Europe.

Its aim is to minimise the disruption to education, as well as reduce feelings of anxiety experienced by young refugees who are adjusting to a new life in an unfamiliar country, by providing them with a physical connection to home.

The 16,000 books have been sourced and printed after the Ukrainian Embassy requested help to support refugee children in the UK. Ukrainian publishers donated the layouts and permissions for 16 picture books, novels and other titles suitable for readers aged three to 17.

With printing not possible in Ukraine, Halstan manufactured all books, which ranged from picture books aimed at younger children to novels for young adults, from its UK production facility.

Production of the books was funded through donations by PLS and Halstan, with additional material support provided by Canon Commercial Print Division and Premier Paper. The Bookmark Reading Charity also agreed to donate an additional 1,000 books from its own Bookbox campaign to the project.

The achievement was marked at an event in the British Library on 11th August, where guests were joined by Zelenska via videolink. She said: “Books not only entertain and educate us – they also unite us and bring us back to a feeling of home. This project is our victory on the cultural front, and it brings our primary victory closer.

"We can bring the homeland to Ukrainian children in the form of books. We called this project ’Books Without Borders’ as Ukrainian books can travel with Ukrainians to any country where they are needed. The Embassy of Ukraine to the UK, together with Halstan, Publishers’ Licensing Service and other benefactors, have printed 16,000 books.

"I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project. Displaced Ukrainian children will now be able to enjoy a mini library at home.”

Additional support was provided by the Publishers Association as well as the Department for Education, which liaised with local authorities across the UK and the Association for Ukrainians in Great Britain to ascertain where the books will be delivered for onward distribution.

Rupert Smith, chief executive of Halstan, said: “We are honoured to have the opportunity to support Ukrainian families entering the UK in this way. This project aims to provide young readers with many much-loved books from their homeland so they can feel connected and hopefully find some comfort, while assisting with their education and development whilst they are away from home.”

Sarah Faulder, chief executive of PLS, commented: “I am proud that PLS has been able to play a part, on behalf of publishers, in supporting the First Lady’s initiative to turn to the power of books to bring comfort to displaced Ukrainian children taking refuge in the UK.”