Read for Good enjoys the support of amazing authors, illustrators and celebrities who share our love of reading. If you are a published author or illustrator and would like to support us with your time please contact us to discuss any opportunities we might have.
“I read all the time as a child, and not just books. I loved reading the backs of cereal packs, jamjar labels, sauce bottles… anything! So you’ll understand that for me one of the best things about Read for Good’s sponsored read is that the kids involved can read whatever they like.”
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Our first chair, Roald loved the spirit of Read for Good’s sponsored read – putting the reader at the heart of things. He said, “Please join Readathon. Not only will your pupils be encouraged to read good books, they will help sick children at the same time.”
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From visiting Manchester Children’s Hospital to helping bring the power of our sponsored read to the whole city of Liverpool, Sarah’s support is amazing.
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From school visits to launching the Zog mural at Royal Free Children’s Hospital, Julia is a fantastic ambassador. “Reading is like flying – it can carry you to different worlds. So horray for Read for Good, which helps launch so many children on that exciting journey,” says Julia.
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David helped us bring Bath Children’s Literature festival to children in hospital and launch our hospital programme in Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, where he currently acts as our resident author, he said: “Read for Good gets books to children in our hospitals. Like so many of the best projects, it is simple, obvious, important, life-enhancing. I think its just blooming wonderful.”
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Malorie Blackman, Children’s Laureate 2013-2015, took time from her busy schedule to launch our hospital programme in Great Ormond Street in 2014.
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Tom is our author in residence at Gloucestershire Royal Children’s Hospital.
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Holly is our resident author at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
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Pop Idols, CBBC legends and authors, Sam and Mark got thousands more children reading for fun during the 2016 Hay Festival with the lure of a visit by the stars to one winning Read for Good school. Sam Nixon said: “The element of competition, the fact that you can read anything – including us – and because the money you raise helps other children, as well as buying books for your own school: that’s at least four great reasons to run Readathon.”
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Children’s author and former teacher, Brough Girling spearheaded Readathon’s sponsored read in schools, which began in 1984. In 2010, the charity Read for Good was established to continue Brough’s work of motivating millions of school children to read for fun through sponsored reads.
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Michael starred in our film to schools, explaining why you should support us. He said: “It’s great if you can read… If you do, the world is yours. This is what Read for Good is all about.”
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Ben Holden’s latest anthology, Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups was published in support of Read for Good in 2016. Ben said: “Read for Good’s ingenious loop of getting kids reading in schools, in order to fund brand new books and storyteller visits for hospitalised children… well, words (for once) are not enough to express my admiration. I can, however, vouch for the transformative nature of their work, having visited the wards with their amazing team.”
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Jeanne is a huge supporter of Read for Good and has run author sessions on our behalf at Evelina Children’s Hospital at Guys and St Thomas’. She has written over 80 titles, including picture books, novels and television scripts and won numerous awards.
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Francesca worked with Read for Good as part of our links with Bath Children’s Literature Festival, visiting Bristol Children’s Hospital, she said: “Children like Perfect Peter and Clever Clare love reading but for boys like Horrid Henry, a sponsored read might just be the spark. The element of competition, the fact that you can read anything – even comics – and not least, because the money you raise helps other children, as well as buying books for your own school. Discovering how wonderful reading is as a child brings joy that will last a lifetime.”
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Claire Freedman, best selling author of the Aliens love Underpants series, reading to Cassie whilst having one of her regular dialysis sessions in hospital. Claire read from her book “The Great Christmas Pudding Rescue” published by Pan Macmillan for Tesco. £1 from every book sold was donated to Read for Good.
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Cerrie is our resident author at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, she said: “Bringing authors to hospital schools is a fantastic initiative which I’m honoured to be part of.”
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Andrew Cope, author of the best selling Spy Dogs series entertained children at the launch of our service at Leicester Children’s Hospital and is our resident author at Nottingham. Andrew is featured in the photo with our very own storyteller, Helen Appleton and …. is that Spy Dog without his disguise?
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“Readathon is absolutely fantastic. It’s a brilliant way to get children reading. It works every time.”
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“The more books children read, the better. Reading is like jogging for the brain – get your feet up kids and get reading. Good luck to Read for Good!”
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“Go ahead, find the books you enjoy, or the magazines, or whatever takes your fancy, and read. Not only are you going to have a good time, you’re also doing good for other people.”
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Nick Sharratt in 2013 launching our hospital programme in Glasgow’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
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“I think the hospital programme is such a wonderful, imaginative initiative. Read for Good is doing a magnificent job to help children and their parents at the most difficult time in their lives.”
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Philip Reeve brings the Manchester Children’s Book Festival to young patients of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in 2014 with Read for Good.
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Author of children’s favourite, Claude, Alex T. Smith delights young patients of Bristol Children’s Hospital, bringing them all the excitement of Bath Children’s Literature Festival with Read for Good.
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John is a neighbour of Read for Good and brought the fun of Bath Children’s Literature Festival to patients of Bristol Children’s Hospital. Writing, poetry and guitar playing – he’s a man of many talents!
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Henry visited Bristol Children’s Hospital to see us in action, he said: “When you donate to Read for Good so that children in hospital can get a book, that book can take them to outer space, to the depths of the ocean, to any place in their imagination. All through a book. What an amazing adventure!”
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Hugh Laurie and Brough Girling, celebrating the support given to charities back in 2000 as a result of the amazing fundraising by our schools.
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Anne Fine, former Children’s Laureate has long been a fan of Readathon and has worked with Founder Brough Girling over the years.
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Author Richard Kurti reads with the young patients of London’s Royal Free Hospital to celebrate the launch of our hospital programme.
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Steve Hartley went on tour with Brough Girling, visiting our most loyal schools across the UK. They had as much fun as the schools did!
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Christopher Edge is an author local to Read for Good and has visited schools to help launch our sponsored read.
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Katie Fforde is a neighbour of Read for Good here in Gloucestershire and has supported our work in children’s hospitals.
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Colin and Jacqui Jawkins have been long time supporters of Read for Good’s, and we love their books.
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Read for Good gets books to children in our hospitals. Like so many of the best projects, it’s simple, obvious, important, life-enhancing. It is just blooming wonderful.
David Almond, author.