• Date:

  02 Mar 2026

• Location:

  NI Wide

• Price:

  Free

Join Business in the Community Northern Ireland’s Time to Read Book Drive and make a real difference.

2026 marks the National Year of Reading — a nationwide celebration designed to inspire a lifelong love of books in children and young people. Yet new research shows just how important initiatives like our Book Drive are.

According to the National Literacy Trust:

• Fewer than 3 in 10 children (28.9%) in Northern Ireland enjoy reading in their free time, meaning 7 in 10 do not
• Only 1 in 6 (16.9%) read daily, with boys, older pupils and children from lower‑income families least likely to read for pleasure
• Children who use a school or public library are twice as likely to enjoy reading and three times more likely to read daily

By supporting the Time to Read Book Drive, your organisation can help reverse these trends and give local pupils better access to the books that inspire curiosity, confidence, and joy.

How to get involved

Taking part is simple — and your impact could be transformational for a child.

• Set up a collection point in your workplace and invite colleagues to donate new or pre‑loved books suitable for primary‑aged children
• Share your support: once your collection is complete, send us a photo of staff with the donated books to help celebrate National Year of Reading 2026 and World Book Day. Also share photos with us on social media and tag us and use the National Year of Reading tag #GoAllIn2026
• Choose how your books make a difference:
  • If your workplace has Time to Read volunteers, they can bring the books directly to their partner school on their next visit
  • You can donate to a local primary school near your premises, helping pupils bring books home or boosting classroom and school libraries
  • Or, if you have 30 books or more, BITCNI can collect the donations and distribute them to Time to Read schools across Northern Ireland

Why your support matters

Children say they are far more likely to read if they can find books that match their interests — over half (50.6%) stated this as a key motivator — and many schools struggle to refresh their book stock.

Your donated books can help children:

• discover stories that excite them
• build confidence in reading
• develop creativity and wellbeing
• experience the joy of getting lost in a book

This National Year of Reading, let’s work together to put books into the hands of the children who need them most.

Ready to take part? Email info@bitcni.org.uk 

Resources

• Download our World Book Week poster here

Supporting National Year of Reading #GoAllIn