About us

We are a national charity that believes books, reading and writing have the power to change lives. A love of reading inspires creativity, improves employment opportunities, mental health and wellbeing and is one of the most effective ways to help break the poverty cycle.

Supporting #blacklivesmatter and anti-racism
The inside story
We believe that reading and writing for pleasure have the power to transform lives
Contact us
Contact us by telephone or email, or get directions to our office in Edinburgh
Meet the team
Find out who does what at Scottish Book Trust, including contact details
Our impact
We empower hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland every year through reading and writing
Vacancies and opportunities
We are looking for people who want to transform lives through reading and writing
Press releases
Find the latest news and updates from Scottish Book Trust
Board members
We are led by a strong Board of Trustees who bring a diverse range of professional skills and experience to the charity’s governance
Annual review and accounts
Our programmes benefit hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland every year, from babies to adults
Our policies
Our policies regarding the website, complaints, environment and user privacy
Our values
Guidance on how we behave towards each other, those we work with and the public in general.

Our programmes

Learn more about the programmes offered by Scottish Book Trust including Bookbug for young children, Live Literature events for all ages, writing prompts and awards. We promote reading engagement and create writing opportunities for everyone.

Support us

Arts Alive
Part-funded workshops and visits from National Performing Company artists in schools across Scotland
Authors Live
A series of world class children’s author and illustrator events brought directly to your classroom, library or home for free
Bookbug
Bookbug gifts book bags to every child in Scotland and we run free song and rhymes sessions across the country
Book Week Scotland
An annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across the country.
Callan Gordon Award
This award has been set up to celebrate the life of Callan Gordon, a young Scottish writer
Digital Storytelling
Helping people in Scotland tell their life stories
First Minister's Reading Challenge
Aims to help children and young people between the ages of 5 and 18 develop a lasting love of reading
Ignite Fellowship
An annual award supporting the talents and ambitions of professional writers
Labs: practical workshops for writers
Workshops to hone skills and gain new insights into the nuts, bolts and business of writing
Live Literature
Live Literature helps fund and support author events in communities all over the country
Live Literature School Residencies
Work with professional writers, storytellers and creators from our Live Literature directory
New Writers Awards
An annual award supporting emerging writers to develop their craft
Next Chapter Award
An annual award supporting an emerging writer over the age of 40
Reading is Caring
Supporting people living with dementia through shared reading
Read, Write, Count
A national campaign to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of Scotland’s children
Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour
Bringing authors and illustrators to libraries, town halls and schools
The Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship
An annual award offering professional writers a month-long writing retreat
What's Your Story?
Supporting Scotland’s young writers and illustrators
50 Word Fiction
Each month we’ll provide a prompt to get you started
Reading is Caring
Supporting people living with dementia through shared reading
Classic tales and Chinese poetry to be translated in Scots

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