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We are 25!
Scottish Book Trust is a national, independent charity, celebrating its 25th anniversary. There have been so many highlights over the past 25 years – below is a snapshot of some of our favourite milestones and achievements.
1998
![A hand writing in a notebook with another book and tablet nearby on the table A hand writing in a notebook with another book and tablet nearby on the table](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7894/image/m_limit-Timeline%20SBT%20founded%20-%20credit%20Hannah%20Olinger.jpg)
Scottish Book Trust is founded
Our charity is founded to change lives with books, reading and writing, supporting people across Scotland at all stages of life. A love of reading inspires creativity, boosts family bonding, improves employment opportunities, mental health and wellbeing and is one of the most effective ways to help break the poverty cycle.
2000
![Cressida Cowell holding her glasses and a book, talking to an audience of pupils. A projector and Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour sign in the background Cressida Cowell holding her glasses and a book, talking to an audience of pupils. A projector and Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour sign in the background](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7901/image/m_limit-Timeline%20SFCBT%20-%20credit%20Alasdair%20Watson.jpg)
The Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour hits the road for the first time
The Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour has visited every local authority in Scotland, bringing the best and brightest names in children's literature to schools for fully-funded events. Children who have experienced an author event are 60% more likely to read in their free time.
2009
![A group shot of the New Writers Awardees 2024 A group shot of the New Writers Awardees 2024](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7897/image/m_limit-Timeline%20New%20Writers%20Awards%20-%20credit%20Rob%20McDougall.jpg)
The New Writers Awards launches to support talented writers in the early stages of their careers
169 writers have been supported through the awards, including Graeme Macrae Burnet who was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. The Callan Gordon Award was added in 2013, and the Next Chapter Award in 2014. The first Next Chapter Awardee was Gail Honeyman, bestselling author of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
2010
![Bookbug in Scottish Book Trust's garden, holding a book called Hello and waving to the camera Bookbug in Scottish Book Trust's garden, holding a book called Hello and waving to the camera](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7903/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Bookbug%20-%20credit%20Chris%20Scott.jpg)
Bookbug is born!
Bookbug is the biggest nationwide universal book gifting programme in the world. Bookbug, supported by Scottish Government, gifts books to babies and children, with song and rhyme sessions taking place in libraries all over Scotland.
Over 8.8 million Bookbug books have been gifted to date, and an average of 375 Bookbug Sessions take place each week. We created the Bookbug app in 2019 as one more way for families and carers to fit songs and rhymes into their day.
Authors Live launches with Michael Rosen, in partnership with BBC Scotland Learning
The hundredth Authors Live event was broadcast in November 2022, and the events have been viewed over 5 million times.
'Incredibly valuable for a small rural school who cannot get author visits due to location. Our pupils feel like they have a real connection when they take part, and that they are right in the front of the audience.' – Burravoe Primary, Shetland
2012
![A panel of speakers sitting around a table on a stage. Behind them, the screen reads 'Scotland's Stories: Tales from the people of Scotland' A panel of speakers sitting around a table on a stage. Behind them, the screen reads 'Scotland's Stories: Tales from the people of Scotland'](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7896/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Book%20Week%20Scotland%20-%20credit%20Alasdair%20Watson.jpg)
The first Book Week Scotland takes place
Book Week Scotland takes place in every region of Scotland, with funding and support given to organisations to run bespoke local events. We also publish a free book, Scotland's Stories, featuring a collection of true short stories submitted by the Scottish public. Over 50,000 copies are distributed during Book Week Scotland every year, with audio and ebook versions also available.
2015
![Pupils opening their Read Write Count bags and writing on the activity sheets Pupils opening their Read Write Count bags and writing on the activity sheets](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7902/image/m_limit-Timeline%20RWC%20-%20credit%20Chris%20Scott.jpg)
Read Write Count bags are gifted to P2 and P3 children
To date, we have gifted over 1.7 million books through over 850,000 Read Write Count bags – including 22,400 books in Gaelic. In our most recent evaluation, 94% of parents and carers said they had read the books together, and many said the gifted titles had become favourites.
2017
![A group of people gathered around tablets and notebooks A group of people gathered around tablets and notebooks](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7893/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Digital%20Storytelling%20-%20no%20credit%20needed.jpg)
Our first Digital Storytelling workshops take place
We have partnered with charities Macmillan Cancer Support, Scottish Adoption and MS Society Northern Ireland to provide a powerful way for people to share stories, connect with others and celebrate unique voices. Lots of the stories can be found on the Digital Stories website.
2019
![Scots Language Publication Grant book cover collage Scots Language Publication Grant book cover collage](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7904/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Scots%20Language%20Publication%20Grant.png)
The Scots Language Publication Grant launches to support work written in or translated into Scots
This award creates and protects space for new works from contemporary Scots voices, as well as facilitating collections and translations of significant historical works. 34 books have been supported so far, including a Scots translation of George Orwell's Animal Farm.
'Thanks tae the Scots Language Publication Grant, noo fan I perform at an event and somebody asks 'Where can I buy the book with that poem?', I'll finally be able tae pynt them in the direction o DWAMS.' – Shane Strachan, Scots Scriever
2020
![A elderly woman looking at a book with her husband A elderly woman looking at a book with her husband](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7898/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Reading%20is%20Caring%20-%20credit%20Martin%20Shields.jpg)
Reading is Caring is created to support people living with dementia and their carers
Reading is Caring provides training to people who care for someone living with dementia. The free, friendly workshops focus on learning to create personalised, shared and sensory reading experiences that can help maintain their caring relationships, spark memories and relieve stress.
'Reading is Caring was fantastic. The stories bring mum into the here and now. She laughs, she's interested and engaged. I get a glimpse of her personality again, which is lovely for both of us.' - Mary's daughter, Rhona
2021
![Two people in lanyards putting perishable food and picture books on a table, smiling Two people in lanyards putting perishable food and picture books on a table, smiling](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7899/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Food%20bank%20-%20credit%20Alan%20Richardson.jpg)
We gift books to children and families in need via food banks through our Christmas appeal
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to gift over 290,000 books through food banks, community hubs and other charities through the Urgent Children's Book Appeal in 2020 and our subsequent Christmas appeals.
2022
![A group of pupils with their Reading Schools trophy A group of pupils with their Reading Schools trophy](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7900/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Reading%20Schools%20%20-%20credit%20Alasdair%20Watson.jpg)
Reading Schools opens to all schools in Scotland, building the benefits of reading cultures
As of September 2023, 370 schools have become accredited Reading Schools. In our most recent evaluation, 97% of learning professionals felt reading for pleasure had become a routine activity at their school due to Reading Schools.
2023
![Two pupils writing at a table and laughing with a visiting author in the library Two pupils writing at a table and laughing with a visiting author in the library](/uploads/store/mediaupload/7895/image/m_limit-Timeline%20Live%20Lit%20-%20credit%20Fraser%20Napier.jpg)
Live Literature turns 50! We've run the programme for half of its lifetime
Live Literature supports author visits across Scotland, bringing the magic of reading and writing to over 16,000 people each year. Watch authors Vivian French, Harry Josephine Giles and Nadine Aisha Jassat share their favourite memories of the programme.