Doorstep Library

Doorstep Library Literacy charity dedicated to bringing the magic of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children who need our support.

Registered Charity Number 1158197. Doorstep Library is a community-focused charity dedicated to bringing the gift of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children across London who need our support. With one in four 11-year-olds leaving primary school unable to read or write properly, we recruit and train home and online-reading volunteers to go into some of the most disadvantaged areas in London to help introduce young children (aged 0-11 years) to the pleasure of reading. We use books to fuel children’s natural love of stories, fire their imaginations, and encourage their appreciation of reading. Our ultimate goal is to help them develop the self-confidence and essential skills they need to access all the opportunities that will come their way in life.

Just two weeks to go until our runners tackle the Royal Parks Half Marathon! Someone who's been hard at work both traini...
26/09/2026

Just two weeks to go until our runners tackle the Royal Parks Half Marathon! Someone who's been hard at work both training and fundraising is school teacher Eliza. Here's what she had to say about how she came to run for us:

"I first came to know Doorstep Library Network through my school, which supported the charity, and it has stayed close to my heart ever since. As a primary school teacher, I see first-hand every day how powerful reading can be in building a child’s confidence, imagination and future. I’m also a passionate reader myself, so I know just how incredible it is to get lost in a book and discover new worlds.

What’s more I am a keen runner too, but even though taking on the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon on 11 October 2026 isn’t going to be my first long-distance run, it will definitely be a particularly special one. Knowing that every mile I run is helping raise funds for Doorstep Library, I truly believe it makes it even more meaningful.

I believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the joy and magic of reading, and I am delighted that I can help ensure that no child misses out on the incredible worlds and opportunities that books can open up." ❤️📚

Cheer Eliza on by donating to her fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/eliza-krupa-1

After over two years of a weekly 5k Park Run, Richard, Russ, John, Stu, Fred and Finn have joined Team Doorstep Library ...
18/09/2026

After over two years of a weekly 5k Park Run, Richard, Russ, John, Stu, Fred and Finn have joined Team Doorstep Library and are taking on the challenge of the London Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 11th October 2026.

Having heard about Doorstep Library through his good friend Sandy, who works at the charity, Stu decided to enlist his partner John, friends Russ and Richard, and their children Fred and Finn.

Together, they've been hard at work organising two fundraising events: a quiz and a curry night. We wish them the best of luck with all of their fundraising and training! If you to want to donate to their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/team/slow

There's just one month to go until the Royal Parks Half Marathon and today we wanted to spotlight one of our runners! Da...
11/09/2026

There's just one month to go until the Royal Parks Half Marathon and today we wanted to spotlight one of our runners! Daisy, a school teacher, is fundraising for Doorstep Library for a second time, after joining us for the 2025 race. Here's what she had to say:

"I feel connected to the mission of the charity - it's amazing seeing how reading can affect a child’s life first hand in school. Reading is power and is truly a gift to any child! Doorstep Library are doing incredible work to support more and more children and I am so pleased to be a part of it!

I ran the race last year for Doorstep and I am excited to do it again. It was challenging, especially fitting in the training around teaching, but I look forward to showing resilience and determination to cross the finish line!

Reading can transform lives. It helps you to discover your passions as well as being a general life skill. I always struggled with reading as a child, and my class teacher in Y3 recognised this and gave me her special copy of ’The Worst Witch’. I loved escaping into that world and it gave me a little push in the right direction."

You can support Daisy by donating to her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/daisy-houlder-2

We have two places available to join our team of 20 runners taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon this October and rai...
03/08/2026

We have two places available to join our team of 20 runners taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon this October and raise £500 for a good cause.

To join the team email [email protected]. Registration links will be sent on a first come, first served basis, and you must register by 14th August, so please get in touch ASAP!

It's the end of term! 🎉 Last week we celebrated by getting together in Pimlico for our annual summer volunteer social. ☀...
17/07/2026

It's the end of term! 🎉 Last week we celebrated by getting together in Pimlico for our annual summer volunteer social. ☀️

These socials, happening twice a year, are a great opportunity to meet other volunteers and enjoy some drinks and nibbles. It was a sweltering day but luckily we were in an air-conditioned room!

Doorstep Library CEO, Katie, shared her thanks, and Maya, Volunteer Engagement Manager, shared our impact for the year. Volunteers got to enjoy Blind Date With a Book, where they choose wrapped books based on their descriptions.

If you fancy joining us for our next volunteer social, it'll be around Christmas time.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who gave their time this past school year. We can't wait to see you all in September for more reading! 💜

16/06/2026

We've done it! 🎉

Wow, thank you to everyone who donated or supported our Big Give campaign in any way. You have helped us to raise a staggering £60,320!

Here are a few words from our CEO, Katie Bareham, on the impact your donations will have.

If you'd like to stay up-to-date to see how your donations are used, you can subscribe to our newsletter: https://doorsteplibrary.org.uk/newsletter-signup/

Thank you, once again, from the whole of the Doorstep Library team 💜

13/06/2026

✨ "Reading is like dreaming but with your eyes open" - Fatimah, aged 8.

We're almost at the end of our annual Big Give summer fundraising campaign. If you have the capacity, please help us reach more children like sisters Taibah and Fatimah — because reading is a dream we should all get to experience!

Donate here: https://bit.ly/big-give-26-social

We're halfway through our Big Give campaign! How are we doing?We're currently 38% there, which means that we're not quit...
09/06/2026

We're halfway through our Big Give campaign! How are we doing?

We're currently 38% there, which means that we're not quite where we need to be if we want to reach £60k! Can you help us catch up?

These next 7 days are the best time to give as your donation will be doubled. You have until 12pm on 16th June.

Doorstep Library is 15 years old this year. Help us fund the next 15 years! Thank you 💜

Donate here: https://bit.ly/big-give-26-social

08/06/2026

When our volunteers first started reading with 10-year-old Sonte, she'd suggest they take turns reading alternate pages, then quietly pick whichever page had the fewest words for herself.

Since then, she's found the books that work for her, and is now reading between sessions and over the holidays.

We'd love to support more children like Sonte discover that reading can be for them. To help us get there, you can donate to our Big Give campaign, where we're aiming to raise £60,000 by 16th June.

🔗 Donate here: bit.ly/big-give-26-social

"I was never ever interested in reading."Those are the words of Fatimah, 8, before Doorstep Library knocked on her door....
05/06/2026

"I was never ever interested in reading."

Those are the words of Fatimah, 8, before Doorstep Library knocked on her door. Then one day, a volunteer held out a book and she thought: why not give it a go?

She did.

Hours disappeared. Adventures unfolded. A shy girl who once avoided books was now curled up on the sofa, lost in stories. When her neighbour, Zahar, left after their reading session, she was still reading as she walked to the car. Still reading as she climbed inside. Still reading as it drove away.

This is what reading does. It doesn't just teach children words. It gives them worlds to get lost in.

Fatimah's sister Taibah had her own quiet breakthrough — a girl who lacked the confidence to read out loud, now reading bedtime stories to her little sister every night, doing all the voices.

Two girls. One knocked-on door. A transformation that will follow them for life.

Doorstep Library volunteers visit children in some of the UK's most underserved communities, bringing books chosen just for them — adventure, comedy, graphic novels, whatever lights them up — and the time and encouragement to fall in love with reading.

Right now, we're raising £60,000 through the Big Give campaign, running 2–16 June. Every donation made during this time is matched — meaning your gift goes twice as far.

If you believe every child deserves the chance to discover a book they love, will you help us knock on more doors?

🔗 Donate here: https://bit.ly/big-give-26-social

[Image description: Fatimah (left) sits with her older sister Taibah (right) on the sofa. Both of them are smiling at the camera].

Address

X+why, Fivefields, 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens
London
SW1W0DH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442088701476

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