Stockport County Community Trust donates over 1,200 free books to local schools for World Book Day

Stockport County Community Trust is one of 104 professional football club charities across England and Wales to benefit from more than 1,200 free books this World Book Day, which they will be able to give away to local partner primary schools in Stockport as part of their Premier League Primary Stars classroom delivery.  

At a time when  reading for pleasure levels are at a two-decade low, and 1 in 10 children and young people don’t have a book of their own at home, supporting children and young people to find the joy in reading is more important than ever. Research shows that reading for pleasure can benefit a child’s reading skills, wellbeing, empathy, confidence, and aptitude for learning. Since Premier League Primary Stars began in 2017, more than 460,000 free books have been gifted to young people across England and Wales. 

Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of football to help children learn, be active and develop essential life skills and is available to every primary school in England and Wales. More than 75,000 teachers have engaged with the programme to date, giving them access to more than 650 free downloadable resources across Maths, English, PE and PSHE. 

Stockport County Community Trust’s Premier League Primary Stars Coordinator, Sam Roberts, said: “World Book Day is an incredible opportunity for Stockport County Community Trust to inspire children to discover the joy of reading.  

“Being able to gift pupils a book of their own makes a real difference, especially at a time when reading for pleasure is in decline. We’re proud to support schools across Stockport and help create positive experiences that build confidence, spark imagination and encourage a lifelong love of reading.” 

The Premier League and the National Literacy Trust are running the Great Big World Book Day 2026 Footy & Booky Quiz, which will feature videos from Premier League footballers and authors, including Nadia Shireen and A.M. Dassu. This event is one of the Go All In Together Moments that aim to bring people together to celebrate reading throughout the National Year of Reading. 

Premier League Foundation Chief Executive, Alex White, said: “Since 2017 almost half a million children across England and Wales have received a free book thanks to Premier League Primary Stars and the National Literacy Trust. We understand the crucial role that reading for enjoyment has in building confidence and promoting positive mental health in young people. Through the Premier League Primary Stars education programme we are committed to helping children access the many benefits that reading offers.”