The Times is appealing for book donations and gift vouchers to enable us to help schools to stock up on reading resources for pupils.

North Somerset Times: The campaign was set up to give out more books to primary school pupils.The campaign was set up to give out more books to primary school pupils. (Image: Archant)

The Times and its sister paper, the Weston Mercury, launched the Books For Schools campaign in October last year to give pupils access to more books.

Due to government cuts, schools are struggling to pay for extra resources for their students.

More: Support our campaign to provide more books to schools.

North Somerset Times: Teacher Emma Caffrey with pupils and the 100 books.Teacher Emma Caffrey with pupils and the 100 books. (Image: Archant)

Research carried out by Save The Children has also revealed nearly a fifth of all pupils in England are unable to read well when they leave primary school.

Evidence shows children who can read do better at school and have access to more career opportunities in later life.

It can also boost children’s creativity and imagination and improve their social skills and wellbeing.

Community groups, authors and keen readers across North Somerset have given generously to the appeal and the Times and Mercury has given out 1,800 books to schools in just over a year.

Pupils from Yatton Infant School received the most recent donation of 100 books from the Times.

Year one class teacher Emily Caffrey said: “What a fantastic surprise for our school to be selected to receive 100 books. This will go a long way to re-stocking our library and book areas.

“Books for Schools is a fantastic initiative and we are so pleased we took the time to be involved.”

To be in with a chance of winning 100 titles, schools are asked to email vicky.angear@archant.co.uk with details about reading initiatives they run in school.

The Times has also teamed up with Usborne to give schools the chance to win extra books by holding a sponsored read.

More: Schools can win scores of new books for pupils.

Usborne bookseller Sam Goodger has offered to help schools organise sponsored reads.

For every £100 raised, Usborne will donate an extra 10 per cent in free books, for £250 or more the publisher will donate an extra 30 per cent, and if a school raises more than £600 Usborne has agreed to hand over 60 per cent – £360 worth of books.

The Times is appealing for more donations of good quality second-hand books, suitable for primary aged children, or gift vouchers.

Donations can be dropped off at Clevedon Community Bookshop, in Copse Road, Portishead Town Council office in Folk Hall, High Street, or the Times office in Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare.