Publishers donate unused LBF stock to Book Trade Charity

Publishers including Penguin Random House, Pearson, Bonnier Books UK and Macmillan Education have donated books they planned to use at the cancelled London Book Fair to the Book Trade Charity.

Packs of books by Charlie Mackesy and Booker-winner Bernardine Evaristo are among the titles donated to the organisation, which supports people from the book trade with grants and housing.

Charity c.e.o. David Hicks said “quite a few” LBF exhibitors had decided to send their stock to the organisation.

He said: “We normally collect about 13 pallets of books, and this is a huge contribution to our fundraising—we hold six sales to the general public each year and these contribute over £50,000. We do receive donations from publishers, distributors etc throughout the year—often office clearances, or just spare stock—but the single biggest source is LBF.

“When it was cancelled we thought we would miss out badly, but I am delighted to say that the kindness of many of the publishers has meant it will not be a total disaster for us.”

PRH was among those involved, sending five pallets of books. PRH marketing operations director Tora Orde-Powlett, who organises the logistics of the fair, said: “We know the London Book Fair is an important moment for the Book Trade Charity to get book donations for fundraising sales, so we were keen to honour that despite the fair being cancelled. We have donated all books that both Penguin Random House and DK were planning on using at the fair, including titles from Charlie Mackesy, Peppa Pig, DKfindout! and Bernardine Evaristo.”

The charity is currently fundraising to build 17 flats and bedsits at its £3.1m project in Whetstone, north London, for young people from diverse backgrounds. It needs to raise £500,000 and has raised £235,000 so far.