Annual Review 2009 - Book Aid International

Annual Review 2009
Books change lives

Book Aid International
Books change lives
Deliveries in Kenya
‘Ethiopia Reads’ donkey library, Awassa , Ethiopia
Making books available and accessible
through effective and exciting libraries
is what Book Aid International does.
Over 55 years we have provided
more than 27 million books to
libraries in developing countries.
Last year we sent half a million new books to over
2,000 libraries through 153 partners in 13 countries,
12 of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Access to books is central to increasing literacy and building
literate environments. Books offer readers the opportunity
not only to gain skills and find information, but to
understand and appreciate history and culture, broaden
horizons, and learn and experience the sheer pleasure of
a good story well told. For most people in sub-Saharan
Africa, books are scarce and inaccessible –
they are too costly and not available for
sale outside the main cities.
people require. But there are encouraging signs and we
support a variety of libraries that deliver effective services
and provide models for the future.
Public and community libraries are the core. They are
extensively used by a wide range of readers: children
accompanied by their parents or on their own, adult
readers and secondary school students. Governments in a
number of countries are showing more support to public
library services, and we have increased book provision
and developed projects to improve the quality of
specific services.
Libraries offer the only opportunity for
most people to get access to the books
and information they want and need.
Africa’s libraries are in crisis: they are
struggling to create a distinctive role
and secure the funding they need to
develop and provide the service that
2
“The books which I have found in our library give me all kinds of lessons, entertain,

Books change lives
Turiani Community Library, Mvomero District, Tanzania
Prize books at a reading tent, Kenya
Over the past few years we have supported a growing
number of community initiatives, particularly in Cameroon,
Eritrea and Uganda. They vary in size from small collections
in someone’s home to large libraries built by communities
which may eventually be absorbed into the public library
service, as is happening in Kenya.
Good school libraries can make a substantial contribution
to improving educational performance. Rapid expansion
of school enrolment in primary schools to meet the
Millennium Development Goal of universal primary
education has led to a substantial increase in those going
on to secondary school, technical colleges and university.
In spite of the growing numbers at all levels, completion
rates remain low because of the lack of teachers and books.
Finally, there has been a rapid growth in indigenous NGOs
running resource centres for staff, volunteers and local
communities. Through our Books for Development
programme we have provided books on a wide range of
development issues ranging from theoretical to very
practical, which have been highly valued by our partners.
Providing half a million books to our partners each year is
the core of our work. Beyond this, our projects give priority
to ensuring that libraries have good facilities and effective
librarians – ranging from highly trained graduate librarians
running a wide range of general and specialist services, to
community librarians such as Charles and Stephen in the
Nairobi slum of Mathare North described on page five.
A library can be in a building, or it can be mobile,
delivering books by truck, motorbike, cycle, donkey
or camel. But no matter what form they take, Book
Aid International supports libraries in sub-Saharan
Africa because we know that every book has the
power to change lives – and that libraries are the right
way to get books directly into the hands of readers.
Clive Nettleton
Director
transform, and enlighten me as well. They have changed my life by being brothers,
sisters, good friends and excellent professors.”– Girum Chala, Ethiopia
3

Book Aid International
working in community and public libraries
Each community and public library we serve is unique, and
we respond with a book provision programme tailored to
each library’s individual needs.
Providing appropriate books and
information for the whole surrounding
population means that books have to
cover a diverse range of subjects.
Modern libraries aim to serve the needs of children
beginning their reading life, students supplementing
their education, adults looking to further their knowledge
and find a diversion through books, and professionals
trying to develop their skills to find employment and
advance careers.
Communities served by libraries supported by Book Aid
International vary enormously: from scattered rural areas in
Eritrea or Somaliland to packed urban centres in capital
cities like Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. Often the only things
the libraries we support have in common are the need to
serve the whole community, and the enthusiasm of the
staff, volunteers and readers.
Adults read and study at a library in Somaliland
Book Aid International has a long history of working with
public library services in Africa, who can use their networks
to distribute the books we send to even the most remote
areas. We also work with independent networks of all
kinds, from community libraries in Uganda to Rotary Clubs
in Zimbabwe.
The core of our work with these libraries remains providing
them with books, but where possible we also look for ways
to add value to the books we send. Refurbishment grants
encourage a welcoming environment, providing shelving,
tables and chairs, and child-friendly features such as mats
and cushions. Training courses are provided, often by Book
Aid International’s own professional librarians, to develop
and maintain skills to both manage collections and serve
readers. Grants to purchase locally published books, often
in local languages, ensure that books for children and less
confident readers of English are also available.
4
“Everybody uses our library, children, students, adults and teachers. Reading brings

Books change lives
Case study: Mathare North Library
Libraries for Living
In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, around half of the
population live in slums which cover only 5% of the
city’s area.
Book Aid International has been working with several
organisations in slum areas to help improve the prospects
of residents. The opportunities for young people in
particular are limited, and with the lack of available
schooling and the growing presence of a gang culture, they
might otherwise be facing a bleak future.
Mathare North Library serves a community which is
estimated at anything up to 600,000. The library building,
with rooms dedicated to children, adults and a study
area, is one of the sturdiest buildings in the area. Many
houses here are constructed from corrugated iron and
cardboard, and there is no municipal electricity supply or
running water.
Book Aid International has been working with the Kidslibs
Trust and the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) to
provide books for both adults and children in the library,
where there are currently nearly 6,000 members. The
library is always full, with 1,500 visitors a month, and 50
young people every day in the small children’s section.
Book Aid International has made a commitment to provide
carefully chosen, appropriate new books to ensure the
stock remains in good condition despite heavy use.
A view over Mathare North slum
Mathare North’s dance group performs at the library’s fourth birthday celebrations
The books also support a range of activities for
children and adults. They include the ‘Little Hands, Big
Steps’ programme, which gives parents of very young
children a bag of books every week which they can then
read together.
“It is a great deal for all us mothers, to come here,
have space to teach our children. If kids can come
together, develop that reading culture in us, it can
change the country! To me, reading is a great thing.
They should have that chance to come and read, get
that knowledge.”
Peggy Rungu, mother to Schofield, aged two
It is impossible to overstate the importance of the library to
its users. Following the post-election violence of 2008,
when many people lost their lives and homes, the library
became a refuge for some of its members. Charles and
Stephen, the two Mathare North librarians who both lost
their homes during the violence, believe that the library
remained untouched in the chaos because of the respect
the community have for it.
This library is only one of many supported by Book Aid
International. It illustrates the importance of community
libraries – the commitment of the librarians and volunteers
is matched only by the passion for knowledge
demonstrated by readers.
knowledge, and if you are informed you have power.”– Milicent Mlanga, Librarian, Kilifi Library, Kenya
5

Book Aid International
working in educational libraries
Providing books for children has always been an important
part of Book Aid International’s work. Developing an
environment rich in inviting and age-appropriate books
that allow reading for pleasure as well as study means that
children are more likely to become literate earlier and
maintain their literacy into adulthood.
But books for primary school children are only part of the
story. Despite a rapid increase in the number of places in
recent years, fewer than 20% of children in most sub-
Saharan African countries complete secondary school. It is
essential for social and economic development to increase
both the number and quality of secondary school
graduates, who go on to technical colleges and universities
and provide high quality teachers, professionals and
leaders of the future. Over the past two years, Book Aid
International has increased its work with secondary schools
and further and higher education to support this key area.
Sharing library time in Kenya
Even under the most difficult of circumstances, getting
access to education is a high priority for the young people
and parents we support. In unstable areas such as Puntland
in Somalia, schools struggle to get the resources they need
and there is the constant threat of unrest. But
while Rob Sarjant of Book Aid International
was visiting in 2009, he saw the positive
effects having access to a library could have
– one person he met described reading as
“food for the mind and imagination”.
6
“I have no words big enough to thank you for this treasure you have given us…our

Books change lives
Case study: FAWEZa, Zambia
‘A Library on Wheels’
Our partner organisation FAWEZa (Forum for African
Women Educationalists of Zambia) is part of a pan-African
group that advocates for educational policies and
programmes that promote gender equality and the
importance of education for girls.
FAWEZa’s mobile libraries were set up in response to
research which showed that even when resources like
books were available in secondary schools, girls were more
likely to miss out on using them because of shyness or
reserve in mixed situations. Also, girls are much more likely
to be held back by responsibilities at home that can
prevent them going to school and disrupt their education.
To remedy this, FAWEZa converted a truck into a mobile
library and began regular visits to 12 secondary schools
around the capital, Lusaka. With the support of the schools,
including a contribution to fuel costs and a commitment
to making books available to both males and females,
students can borrow books including textbooks, reference
works and novels for up to two weeks.
The positive outcomes of the project are clear. Recent
evaluation of the programme showed that both male and
female students improved their exam results over all areas
compared to students with no access to the books.
Improvements to biology and general science exam results
were particularly apparent.
Book Aid International will continue to support FAWEZa,
with the generous support of donors. For 2010, we have
secured funding from several sources including The Beit
Trust and Pearson Plc to buy and outfit another truck and
supply it with books. Eventually we and FAWEZa hope that
the Department of Education in Zambia, which fully
supports the scheme, will take it over and expand its reach
to all secondary schools. We also have plans to use
FAWEZa’s experience to support the development of
mobile libraries in Kenya and Uganda.
The schools served by FAWEZa often have no library at all,
and only a few outdated or unsuitable books. FAWEZa,
with the support of Book Aid International, now has three
vans carrying 10,000 books between them to 42 high
schools and nearly 9,000 pupils. Many are in rural areas,
which can mean that the mobile library is the only way
they have of accessing books.
One of FAWEZa’s mobile library vans
Secondary school students browse the shelves inside the mobile library
library was literally empty.”– Tennyson Hlabangana High School, Zimbabwe
7

Book Aid International
working in specialist resource libraries
The number of specialist resource centres supported by
Book Aid International grew in 2009 by 35% as our Books
for Development programme responded to increased
demand for targeted, high level books on topics ranging
from agriculture to economic development and gender
issues to health and housing.
These books were sent to non-governmental, grassroots
organisations, who, though varied in size and scope, are
all working to improve the situation in their own countries
and beyond through education, influencing policy and
initiating their own programmes.
Rural issues are just one of the range of subjects being
tackled by the Books for Development programme, and it
is clear from the continued demand for the books we send
that this project will remain a priority for Book
Aid International.
Ian, Caleb and Matthew read outside the Nguruman Maarifa Centre, Kenya
Libraries and resource centres play an important role for
many of this growing breed of organisations, providing an
information hub for staff, higher education students and
affiliated members. Just one example is the Arid Lands
Information Network (ALIN), which has developed, in
partnership with local organisations, ten Maarifa (or
‘knowledge’) centres in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. ALIN
was set up to serve rural communities and to improve
farming by providing access to books, newspapers, journals
and the internet.
In 2009, Lesley Pinder was able to
visit the Maarifa Centres at
Nguruman and Isinya in Kenya
on behalf of Book Aid
International. She noted:
“In a world which is
moving more and more
quickly, and where
information on the
internet and in the
media and books is
changing constantly, it is
increasingly difficult for
rural dwellers to keep up
and ensure that they are
not being exploited or
left behind.”
8
“Reading has affected my life, my culture, my knowledge. With reading, my life started

Books change lives
Case study: Tanzania Gender Networking Programme
‘A Transformed Tanzanian Society’
The Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) is a
non-governmental organisation which has been working
in Tanzania since 1993 on the practical promotion and
application of gender equality, equity and women’s
empowerment. Their vision is of:
‘a transformed Tanzanian society in which there is
gender equality and equity; equal opportunities;
access to and control over resources for
all citizens’.
An essential part of its service is the resource centre in
Dar es Salaam. Book Aid International has been supplying
them with targeted, appropriate books since 2005 as part
of the Books for Development programme. TGNP has
reported the huge importance of the books to their users,
with a 54% leap in people using the resource centre
between 2007 and 2008.
Agnes Lubogo
Agnes Lubogo, a student at the
Institute of Social Works in Dar
es Salaam uses the resource
centre regularly to study:
“I believe a lack of confidence and unequal sharing of
wealth between men and women are common
problems that face women in most developing
countries, including Tanzania. Because I have been
reading books, I am well equipped with knowledge
and experience from different people, one of many
advantages I get from reading these books.”
Impressive resources, including our books, on the shelves at TGNP
Aidan Mmali, Tanzania
TGNP are also contributing to
the spread of new nongovernmental
organisations
being set up throughout
Tanzania and sub-Saharan
Africa. Aidan Mmali, a
Political Science and Public
Administration graduate, has
undertaken his research at
the library and used it to set
up a new organisation, ‘Youth
Volunteer Against Risk Behaviour’ (YOVARIBE) where he
is Programme Leader.
“I do appreciate the services that are provided here
at TGNP and particularly in the library department…I
am very much interested in using case studies from
different countries, these books are well researched
so it becomes easy for me to relate a situation in India
with the situation in Tanzania, and from there I know
how to go on with my project”
to look completely different in a positive way, it affected my taste for life.”– Ahmed, Palestine
9

Book Aid International
working in 2009
(number of books sent)
AFRICA
Cameroon
Working with our partner, Education Information Services
International, we have supported the development of five
community libraries in Anglophone areas in the north-west and
south-west of the country.
Uganda
The Books for Development programme was a particular success in
Uganda in 2009. We are supporting a number of NGOs and their
resource centres, including organisations working in rural areas on
agriculture, poverty and gender.
Cameroon
(25,936)
Tanzania
Tanzania received more books than ever before in 2009, reaching a
huge range of public, community, specialist and educational libraries.
The end of the year also saw new projects, including children’s and
teenagers’ corners in three libraries.
Zambia
As well as our work with FAWEZa’s mobile library project
(page seven), we also donated books directly to
Copperbelt University in Kitwe.
Namibia
(34,312)
Namibia
The Namibian government has been trying to address the legacy of
apartheid which left 60% of the population without adequate healthcare
or education. We support communities by providing stock for the
growing number of public and community libraries which have been
developing over recent years.
The Occupied
Palestinian Territories
(8,518)
Syria
The Occupied Palestinian Territories
Restrictions on clearance and distribution of materials coming into the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as frequent school closures and
curfew restrictions, mean that access to books is very difficult for the
communities on the West Bank and in Gaza. Book Aid International is
able to continue supporting organisations like the Tamer Institute of
Community Education though our partnership with the British Council.
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
10
“We’ve been trying to get these books for years but the department hasn’t been

Books change lives
Eritrea
With an exceptionally young population, Eritrea needs the
support Book Aid International supplies to its overcrowded school
libraries. By supporting community libraries, we help some of the
most rural populations get access to books.
Zambia
(6,195)
Uganda
(72,000)
Zimbabwe
(65,662)
Eritrea
(32,895)
Ethiopia
(27,239)
Kenya
(81,461)
Tanzania
(79,569)
Malawi
(44,661)
Somalia &
Somaliland
(12,113)
Ethiopia
With a range of partners in Ethiopia, we sent books to a wide
variety of libraries, including mobile donkey libraries and rural
reading rooms.
Somalia & Somaliland
Our work is focussed on Somaliland and Puntland, where we
are developing primary and secondary school libraries in
partnership with the Africa Educational Trust. As well as
providing books, community involvement and training are
essential parts of the project.
Kenya
Kenya remained our number one recipient of books in 2009.
With an exceptionally strong distribution network, and new
partnerships with community organisations and NGOs to develop
libraries, we know that our books are making a real impact here.
Malawi
As well as book provision to public libraries, we also support a
network of over a thousand community libraries in Malawi – run
by the communities themselves, and supported through our main
partner in Malawi, the National Library Service.
Pakistan
India
China
Zimbabwe
The economic climate, political unrest and the lack of a national
library service have been huge challenges for libraries in Zimbabwe
in the last few years, but dedicated professionals and volunteers
throughout our distribution network have meant that our books
continue to be welcomed and are more needed than ever.
Sri Lanka
(10,116)
Sri Lanka
2009 saw our final shipment of books to Sri Lanka following the
tsunami of 2004. Books sent to the rebuilt libraries and temporary
relief and transition camps have focussed particularly on children’s
literature, and vocational books that have helped people set up
businesses and gain qualifications after the devastation of the
disaster, contributing to the long rebuilding process.
No shipments were sent to Sudan in 2009 but we continue to be active in the country in 2010.
able to afford them. If anything comes between us and our shipments of BAI
books, we get very jittery!” – Rosemary Shafack, Librarian, University of Buea, Cameroon
11

Book Aid International says thank you!
We receive no government funding for our work. We rely on the generosity of grantmaking
trusts, foundations, companies, businesses, schools, community groups and
individuals to continue our work. Whether you donated books, provided grants,
funded projects, joined our Reverse Book Club, fundraised through your group or in
one case, travelled round Australia dressed in bin bags – we’d like to thank you all here.
Book donations
In 2009, we received donations of new books worth
£5.7million from publishers and other organisations.
The fantastic support we have received from publishers
like Pearson Plc, Hachette Livre UK, Reed Elsevier,
Coordination Group Publications and Nelson Thornes
Ltd is vital to our work – and we hope a good solution
for the publishers too, who can avoid pulping
overstocks or returns.
Trusts and foundations
There is a long history of support from trusts and
foundations at Book Aid International, in some cases
stretching back nearly 50 years! It would be impossible
to thank everyone who supports us here, but in 2009
our major donors included The Beit Trust, The Beatrice
Laing Trust, The Bernard Sunley Charitable
Foundation, The Dulverton Trust, the Peacock
Charitable Trust and The Zochonis Charitable Trust.
There is a more complete list on the back cover.
Companies and organisations
We must also thank companies and organisations for their
support. Major financial donors included Aggreko Plc,
Reed Elsevier Group Plc and Pearson Plc. Without their
support, projects like the Reading Tents and book provision
in Cameroon would not have been possible.
12
“Thank you very much for enabling us to bring such joy to children whose needs are

Books change lives
Community groups and schools
Our long term partnership with World Book Day continued, with school
students raising almost £55,000 by holding book-themed fundraising
days. We also enjoyed a very successful collaboration with Girlguiding
UK as one of the beneficiaries of their ‘Changing the World’ centenary
project. They have so far raised nearly £45,000. Alongside these major
appeals, smaller community groups including church groups and book
clubs worked tirelessly throughout the year to fundraise for us.
Jacqueline Wilson supported the Girlguiding UK
centenary project.
Sponsored fundraisers
Supporters got active in 2009, with 13 people running
either 10k or the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Our most
unusual fundraising team of the year were definitely Anne
Race, Phil Carr and Gareth Owen, who set out to travel
round Australia with no money or possessions. They relied
on the generosity of
strangers to feed, clothe
and equip them, and to
donate money to Book
Aid International.
Setting off in Brisbane
wearing only black
plastic bags, they made
it round in nine months,
having raised an
incredible £11,500 for
Book Aid International.
Photo by Jane Bown
Celebrity help
Joanna Lumley and Michael
Palin remained figureheads of
the Reverse Book Club, and
were instrumental in attracting
new donors to the scheme. In
addition, we were thrilled that
Michael generously gave his
time to host a champagne
reception at the Borders Book
Festival in Melrose, Scotland.
Many thanks, as always, to
both of them for their
invaluable support.
Individual givers
Once again, our individual supporters showed just
how important they are to our fundraising effort in
2009. Donations from individuals made up over 44%
of our total income, with regular giving members of
our Reverse Book Club alone donating enough to send
over 143,000 books overseas.
Volunteers
Book Aid International simply couldn’t send half a million
books every year from our warehouse in Camberwell,
South London, if it wasn’t for our band of dedicated, and
in many cases long-serving, volunteers. We were also lucky
enough to have several interns working in the Fundraising
and Programmes and Operations teams over several
months. We can’t thank everyone enough for giving their
time, skills and support.
neglected and who are also often despised by society.”
– Rudo Mutangadura, VIVA Network Coordinator working with street children and informal education, Zimbabwe
13

Book Aid International’s facts & figures
Patron, council members and other officials
Patron: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM
President: Nigel Newton (appointed July 2009)
Vice President: Professor Kingo Mchombu (appointed July 2009)
COUNCIL
Chair: James Arnold-Baker
Honorary Treasurer : Fergus Cass
Julie Brittain (appointed November 2009)
Richard Crabbe
Carmelle Denning
Geoffrey Guinness (retired July 2009)
Professor Kingo Mchombu (retired July 2009)
Adan Mohamed
Kate Phillips OBE (appointed April 2009)
Diana B Rosenberg MBE (retired July 2009)
Philip Walters MBE
Roger Westbrook CMG
Tony Worthington
Director: Clive Nettleton
Company Secretary: Anthony Campbell
Books sent in 2009 according to subject area
Children & teenagers’ books 146,039
Primary and secondary school textbooks 162,885
Fiction and literature for adults 52,852
Higher education 30,640
Vocational education 28,950
Medicine 24,701
Teacher training 22,636
English as a foreign language 11,767
Reference 8,972
Non-fiction 7,098
Law 4,133
TOTAL 500,673
Income breakdown
Charitable trusts & NGOs £344,432
Government bodies £3,840
Companies £133,558
Community sources £137,727
Individuals £570,336
Total voluntary income £1,189,893
Activities for generating funds £10,551
Investment income £4,614
Other incoming resources £2,360
Value of donated books £5,714,000
TOTAL £6,921,418
Expenditure breakdown
Cost of generating funds £427,395
Activities for generating funds £8,884
Charitable activities
Access to information £608,791
Use of donated books £5,714,000
Training & learning £64,580
Advocacy £39,027
Governance costs £23,349
TOTAL £6,886,026
For detailed accounts go to www.bookaid.org
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“Book Aid International books have made a really big difference. Thousands are now

Books change lives
Book Aid International’s
partners
This is a full list of overseas partners who directly receive our
books. In many cases, they also act as distributing agents for
other organisations and libraries – over 2,000 in all in 2009. We
would like to thank all our partners for their work in ensuring
our books reach even the most remote of the people we serve.
Cameroon
African Model Forest Network
Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association of Cameroon
Dynamic Action Group
Education Information Services International
Health Vigilance Programme
Strategic Humanitarian Services (SHUMAS)
University of Buea
Women on the Move for Equal Development
Young Women's Christian Association
Eritrea
British Council
Ministry of Education
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa University
Awassa University
British Council Ethiopia
CODE-Ethiopia
Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Associations
Ethiopian Books for Children & Educational Foundation
Ethiopian Knowledge and Technology Transfer Society
Jimma University
Kenya
Afri Afya
Arid Lands Information Network
Bungoma Organization for Empowerment of Women
Container Library
Dadaab Refugee Camp
Education Centre for the Advancement of Women
Egerton University
Gender and Development Centre
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
Kakuma Refugee Camp
Kenya National Library Service
Kenya Polytechnic University College
Kenya Prisons Service
Kenya Technical Teacher's Training College
Kenyatta University
Kidslibs Trust
Kisii District Library
Maji Na Ufanisi
Maseno University College
Moi University
National Book Development Council of Kenya
Nyeri Provincial Library
Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
Shalom House Documentation Centre
Slums Information Development Resource Centres (SIDAREC)
University of Nairobi
Wajir Community Library
Well-Empowered Communities through Agricultural Resources and Networking
(WECARN)
Malawi
Council for NGOs in Malawi
Development Action for Marginalised Rural Areas
Eye of the Child
Malawi National Library Service
Mzuzu University
University of Malawi
Namibia
Community Library Service
Education Library Service
Pharmaceutical Society of Namibia
Polytechnic of Namibia
Sister Namibia
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Al-Quds University
Bethlehem University
Birzeit University
Birzeit University - Development Studies
British Council
Islamic University of Gaza
Ma'an Development Centre
Palestine Polytechnic University
Palestinian Women's Research & Documentation Centre
Tamer Institute of Community Education
Finance Statement
Trustees’ Statement
The Board of Trustees confirms the financial information that appears on
page 14 is a summary of information extracted from the full annual
accounts, which were approved on 30th April 2010. This summary does
not contain sufficient information to allow a full understanding of the
financial affairs of the charity. For further information, the full annual
accounts, the auditor’s report and the report of the Trustees should be
consulted. Copies of the full report and accounts may be obtained, free
of charge, from Book Aid International. They can also be downloaded
from www.bookaid.org. A copy of this document, upon which the
auditors have reported without qualification, has been delivered to the
Charity Commission and to the Registrar of Companies.
James Arnold-Baker, Chair
By order of the Trustees
30th April 2010
Auditor’s statement to the Trustees of Book Aid International
We have examined the summarised financial statements of Book
Aid International.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Auditors
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the summarised financial
statements in accordance with the recommendations of the charities
SORP. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the
consistency of the summarised financial statements and Trustees Annual
Report. We also read the other information included in the Annual
Review and consider the implications for our report if we become aware
of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the
summary financial statements.
Our report on the statutory accounts has been prepared pursuant to the
requirements of the Charities Act 1993 and for no other purpose. No
person is entitled to rely on this report unless such a person is a person
entitled to rely upon this report by virtue of and for the purpose of the
Charities Act 1993 or has been expressly authorised to do so by our prior
written consent. Save as above, we do not accept responsibility for this
report to any other person or for any other purpose and we hereby
expressly disclaim any and all such liability.
Basis of opinion
We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/3 "The
auditors statement on the summary financial statement" issued by the
Auditing Practice Board for use in the United Kingdom.
Opinion
In our opinion the summarised financial statements are consistent with
the full financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.
BDO LLP
Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors
Epsom
Surrey
11th May 2010
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales
(with registered number OC305127).
in a better position in their education… many young people are now sitting in libraries
and reading interesting books”– Abdihakim A Mohmoud, Manager, AET Puntland
15

Supporters
We are very grateful to all our supporters and would particularly like to thank the following:
Major financial donors
29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
Aggreko Plc
Anne Race, Phil Carr & Gareth Owen
Beatrice Laing Trust
The Bernard Sunley Charitable
Foundation
Borders Book Festival
The Ceniarth Foundation
Christ the King church, Burnley
Colchester English Study Centre
The Commonwealth Pharmacists
Association
Department for International
Development
Diana & Gerald Young Trust Fund
Donald Forrester Trust
Imperial Tobacco
International Bar Association
Charitable Trust
Major book donors
A & C Black Publishers Ltd
Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
Andersen Press Ltd
Baker Books
Bayard Magazines
Booksellers Association
British Red Cross
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Library
Canongate Books
Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
Continuum International Publishing
Group
Johnson Matthey Plc
Macmillan Publishers Ltd
Mercers Company
Mr & Mrs P J Giblin
Mr A Pepper
Mr Frank Heatley
Mr Philip Walters MBE
Open Gate Trust
Oxfam Publishing
Peacock Charitable Trust
Pearson Plc
Professional Education
R G Hills Charitable Trust
Reed Elsevier Group Plc
Sobell Foundation
Souter Charitable Trust
St Julians Charitable Fund
States of Guernsey Overseas Aid
Commission
Coordination Group Publications
Frances Lincoln Ltd
Georgian Press
Hachette Livre UK
Harlequin, Mills & Boon Ltd
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Learning Matters
LexisNexis Butterworths
Macmillan Publishers Ltd
National Library of Wales
Nelson Thornes Ltd
Oriflamme Publishing
Oxfam Publishing
Susanna Peake Charitable Trust
The Allan & Nesta Ferguson
Charitable Trust
The Beit Trust
The Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust
The Dulverton Trust
The Harbour Foundation
The Inchcape Foundation
The Law Society
The Man Group Charitable Trust
The Manor 2056 Trust
The Rowan Charitable Trust
The Scotshill Trust
The Works Retail
Unwin Charitable Trust
Woodford Green Preparatory School
Zochonis Charitable Trust
Oxford University Press
Pearson Plc
Reed Elsevier Group Plc
Rising Stars UK Ltd
Sage Publications Ltd
Springer-Verlag London Ltd
Taylor & Francis Group
The Book People Ltd
Walker Books Ltd
We are also extremely grateful to:
All our volunteers and interns
Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in
Great Britain & Ireland
Bertrams Library Services
Peters Bookselling Services
Borders Book Festival
Cathy Schofield
Charities Aid Foundation
Charlotte Jenkins
Chitra Merchant
Colman Getty
Commonwealth Secretariat
Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Course
Egmont Publishing
ERA Films
Frank Lawson
Gardner Thompson
Girlguiding UK
Hannah Firmin
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS
John Swire and Sons Ltd
Jon Snow
Julian Fellowes
Justin Stuart
Kate Bostock
KeyMedia
Michael Palin OBE
Mr Bob Russell MP
National Book Tokens
New Internationalist
Nielsen Bookdata
Overseas Development Institute
Publishers Association
Rob Cornford, Oxfam
Rotary International in Great Britain
and Ireland
Sebastian Faulks CBE FRSL
Shirley & Frank Pinder
Shoot Experience
Soroptimists UK
Stephanie White
The Bookseller
The World Book Day Committee
Zed Books
All illustrations © Chitra Merchant.
Book Aid International is a charity and limited company registered in England and Wales.
Charity no: 313869 Company no: 880754.
Registered Office: 39-41, Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London SE5 9NR
www.bookaid.org