Award-winning Merseyside authors Natalie Reeves Billing and Jude Lennon are preparing to launch this year’s Builder Book 2022 boxes, filled with books and activities designed to promote creativity and literacy for children, young people and their families across the Merseyside region.
Natalie and Jude are both passionate about all things community and helping children improve their mental health, with the boxes having a child mental health theme, supporting the local campaign for Boat of Hope for which Natalie is an ambassador.
Builder Book is another Split Perspectivz initiative, a Liverpool community interest company driven by Natalie alongside fellow children’s author, Jude.
Natalie said:
“The vision of Split Perspectivz is of a world where education is free and accessible for all children and part of Builder Book’s mission is to work locally and collaboratively to identify the children most in need of learning resources and to donate Builder Book boxes as far and wide across Merseyside as possible. The boxes also allow families to follow the mental health campaign starting with the solo row of Bernie Hollywood OBE in the upcoming Talisker Whiskey solo TransAtlantic Challenge starting on December 12th. The campaign will benefit the Samaritans and Love Rowing.”
Following on from the success of Builder Book’s roll-out across the region in 2021, Split Perspectivz has taken the project to the next level this year with orders from every Merseyside-based regional council, prestigious sponsorships deals with the new Novotel in Paddington Village and North West Motor Auctions plus representatives from the private and public sector.
These include Morecrofts, Liverpool One, Mersey Maritime, Good Small Business Awards, Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Sciontec, Forshaw Housing Group, Arnold Clark, Carpenters Solicitors, Liverpool Live, Steven Hunt Associates, Irwin Mitchell, Widnes Vikings, Redrow, Liverpool Heartbeat, Liverpool BID, LCVS, Anglican Cathedral and several borough councils including the HAF Fund from Liverpool City Council and Lord Mayors. All will be volunteering to help assemble the many thousands of Builder Books being distributed to schools, community centres, parent groups, and town halls.
“It’s been a monumental effort from everyone to make this happen and Jude and myself have had incredible support this year,” added Natalie.
Joanne Anderson, mayor of Liverpool said:
“Mental health has been a major concern for everyone during the pandemic, especially the impact on our youngest residents. It’s really important we listen and understand how our children and young people are feeling. One of our top priorities is ensuring the emotional well-being of our children is supported, enabling them to flourish in education and personal development. Initiatives such as Builder Book UK and the Boat of Hope campaign are key to delivering inspiration, support and guidance to families across Merseyside.”
Natalie and Jude, who will be launching the Builder Book boxes at Novotel this Thursday November 10th maintain that they are still looking for more volunteers in the community.
Builder Book is also running an art and poetry competition via the box and online from www.builder-book.com for primary school children which will enable them to be published and have their work on display in buildings such as the Anglican Cathedral.
To find out more about how to get involved with both, email jude@littlelambpublishing.co.uk
