New Year, New Books: Ecclesiastical Ireland and the Benefact Group Give Back to Schools

Photo by: Julien Behal Photography

National charity and arts organisation, Children’s Books Ireland is one of the Irish recipients of the Benefact Group’s annual Movement for Good Partnership Funding programme, promoted by Ecclesiastical Ireland. The donation is part of the specialist financial services group’s Partnership Funding programme which sees 18 charities across the UK and Ireland receive a share of a pot of over €460,000 (£400,000).

The funding is designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities focusing on good causes working towards the advancement of education and skills, heritage, arts and culture, and climate change and environment.

This generous support will help fund a transformative book-gifting project for three disadvantaged Irish schools, with lasting benefits for the entire school community. Every child deserves to have access to the life-changing benefits of reading and with the Every Child A Reader book-gifting programme Children's Books Ireland can provide equitable access to the joy of reading to 1,153 children in disadvantaged communities.

This evidence-based programme has a deep impact that begins in the classroom and lasts for a lifetime. It is expertly designed and implemented to enable positive, sustainable changes in primary school communities, supporting every child to see themselves as a reader and recognise themselves inside the pages of the modern, diverse books they are gifted.

Speaking on this Award, Elaina Ryan the CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said:

“Thanks to Movement for Good, Children’s Books Ireland will be able to change hundreds of children’s lives for the better. By donating high quality books and bringing authors and illustrators to schools in disadvantaged areas, we can spark a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. We are so grateful for this support which brings us a step closer to our vision: every child a reader.”

On top of the financial support, Benefact Group is using the Partnership Funding to build lasting partnerships with the winning charities, working alongside them to provide access to resources, including webinars, volunteering opportunities and support on delivering their projects.

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group. For more information on the Movement for Good Awards, including how to nominate a charity for 2026, visit https://movementforgood.com/.