Reuben Colton, age 11, is Head Librarian at Edge Grove School in Hertfordshire. He is a passionate book worm, with a strong belief that he can instil that same passion in all children. He was inspired to take action after hearing that 1 in 7 primary schools in the UK don’t have their own library or dedicated reading space.
With help from his younger sister Ava (8) they embarked on an initiative they named ‘Blooms For Books’ where packets of giant sunflower seeds were given out to the children in exchange for a small donation, with a mission to raise funds for schools in need of libraries and reading spaces, ensuring every child has the opportunity to discover the joy of books.
Reuben’s passion for literacy and books has recently been recognised at the UK Pupil Library Assistant Of The Year Awards 2024, where he was presented with a Special Recognition award for his outstanding efforts within his school library. He was also given an opportunity to speak to the room about his Blooms For Books initiative and his aspirations for the future and following on from this, Reuben was interviewed on The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 by Nick Robinson about his fundraising efforts and his aspirations to improve libraries for all.
We're thrilled that Reuben has decided to continue Blooms for Books in aid of the National Literacy Trust. Reuben’s dedication to literacy, innovative thinking, and commitment to helping others make him an inspiring young leader in his community and we are excited to see him raise lots of money to support our important literacy work.