Business leaders urged to promote reading by backing “boots to books”

This is to help connect with the National Year of Reading.

The “boots to books” scheme has been launched by the Tigers Trust charity to help reduce the number of children who do not own a book at home.

The Trust, which is linked with Hull City Football Club and supported by the Premier League and EFL In The Community, will place book bins at locations around the MKM Stadium for Hull City’s home match against Watford on Tuesday 3 February.

Organisers of HEY LSIP have also invited the Trust to collect books at their next employer forum, which will take place at the stadium on Monday 9 February.

More than 100 business leaders have already registered for the event, which will kick off National Apprenticeship Week with a discussion on careers and work experience. Representatives of the Trust will discuss their work, and particularly their reach into schools across the region.

Presentations will also be made by The Careers Hub about the recently announced Modern Work Experience Programme, and by Humber Learning Consortium about their Educational Portable Escape Rooms.

In addition, the LSIP team will update its stakeholders, partners and supporters on feedback from its current survey including difficulties around attracting skilled workers and particular areas of concern with attributes lacking in potential recruits.

Conrad Arnott, Primary Education Manager at the Tigers Trust, said the aim of “boots to books” is to collect 5,000 new or good condition books suitable for children aged between three and 12 in time to distribute them for World Book Day on Thursday 5 March.

Conrad said the Yorkshire and Humber book ownership rate of 85.3% is one of the lowest in the country. Nationally in 2025 one in ten children did not have a book of their own. Among children who qualify for free school meals the rate increases to one in six.

He added: “The aim is to increase book ownership among children in the local area by encouraging a love of reading from an early age, supporting families who face financial barriers to accessing books, and engaging the wider community in making a positive, long-term impact on children’s education.”

Hannah Crookes, Project Lead for HEY LSIP, said: “We invited the Tigers Trust to present to businesses at the next employer forum because we recognise the value of their links with local schools. When we heard about ‘boots to books’ we immediately offered our support.

“Reading for pleasure is closely linked to improved literacy, confidence, wellbeing, and life chances – all of which are hugely important when it comes to helping young people make career choices and prepare for the world of work. We’re expecting more than 100 business leaders at our event and we’ve asked everybody who has registered to bring a book and donate it to the Trust to support a fantastic cause.”

The LSIP forum will take place at the MKM Stadium on Monday 9 February with registration at 9am for a 9:30am start and optional pitch side tours. The proceedings will conclude by 1:00pm and will be followed by a free hot buffet lunch.

To register for the HEY LSIP forum please use the following link.

To find out more about the Tigers Trust visit https://www.tigerstrust.co.uk/