Free books given away on World Book Night

Tricia Hornby Chief Executive of Rochdale & District Mind looking at a copy of ‘I Capture the castle’ with Kevin Shepherd in the background

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

The Mind Comple@t café at Nye Bevan House took part in World Book Night 2012, the nationwide celebration of the reading, recommending and giving of books.

Members of the public were invited to apply to be one of the 20,000 book-givers and those selected are passionate readers who enjoy recommending a book they love to other readers. They are also encouraged to pass the books on to those who may be reluctant readers or who are part of communities with less access to books, bookshops and libraries. In total, 480,000 books will be distributed by givers. The remaining 520,000 will be distributed directly to prisons, libraries, hospitals and other places where books are not readily available, through World Book Night’s charitable partners.

Christine Morgan Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees at Rochdale & District Mind, and a life long book lover, said: "I was pleased to be able to take part in World Book Night and to be able to share my love of books and reading with staff, volunteers and the public at the Mind café. It was great to meet people today and to be able to give them a free copy of ‘I Capture the castle’ by Dodie Smith’.

Tricia Hornby the Chief Executive of Rochdale and District Mind came down to support the event along with Michael Walker who supports Literacy development and Kevin Shepherd, a service user, who has recently had a book of poetry published called ‘Fun Rhyming Poetry’.

World Book Night is an industry-wide initiative launched in 2011 and one million free books have been given away by passionate readers to other members of the public across the UK and Ireland.