The Mohn Westlake Foundation is partnering with the London Community Foundation to help Doorstep Library, a literary charity, towards its goal of encouraging a love of reading and a celebration of books in more children’s homes across London.

London Community Foundation specialises in supporting community-based organisations focused on helping disadvantaged Londoners by raising funds from institutions and individuals to invest in local charities and social enterprises.

Doorstep Library is a literacy charity that believes in the power of words to take children to new places, not just in their imagination, but in their lives. The charity wants to see a world where all children can thrive in homes in which books are celebrated and a love of reading is embraced.

With one in four 11-year-olds leaving primary school unable to read or write properly, Doorstep Library recruits and trains volunteers to go into some of the most disadvantaged areas of London to help introduce young children (aged 0-11 years) to the pleasure of reading.

As its service is uniquely home-based, the Doorstep Library’s projects not only improve literacy and confidence in children, but increase family well-being and bonding through the joy of sharing stories. With The Mohn Westlake Foundation’s grant money, Doorstep Library is investing in a Marketing Assistant to attract and recruit new volunteers, enabling the charity to bring the joy of reading and its many benefits to even more children across London.

The Mohn Westlake Youth Achievement Fund, managed by London Community Foundation, will provide multi-year grants to other small organisations working to improve skills and opportunities for young people under the age of 24. The Mohn Westlake Foundation will also be working in partnership with other donors to support organisations tackling youth violence as part of London Community Foundation’s Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund, Save London Lives initiative.

To learn more about this project, please visit the grantees website:
www.londoncf.org.uk
www.doorsteplibrary.org.uk