Welfare Grants 

We know that life can be hard and that the increased cost of living is putting a strain on many households across the country. Our welfare grants are there to be safety net when people need it most. If your circumstances change and you are finding it hard, please reach out to us to find out if you are eligible for our help. 

You can apply for financial support from BTBS providing you have worked in the book trade for more than one year. Complete and return (by email or post) our application form HERE, and enclose copies of your bank statements for the last two months for any accounts you (and your partner, if appropriate) hold, including Savings accounts.  Tell us on the form how you would like us to consider helping you; if you feel your situation is complicated, feel free to add additional information. Grants are means-tested, so we need full information regarding your income and expenditure.  We will then assess your application against our guidelines (agreed by the Charity's Grants & Housing Committee, and trustees) and calculate whether you are eligible for a grant, and how much we might award.  Grants, either one-off or regular (occasionally both) will be paid directly into your bank account, except where it is more appropriate for one-off grants to be paid directly to suppliers/contractors.

Training/refresher grants

We offer grants to those who are eligible, to improve or develop skills through training and career guidance where this will help in obtaining employment in the Book Trade. Whilst such awards are predominantly aimed at those who are currently unemployed or at risk of redundancy, we can consider courses which provide career development in the industry. Please download the form HERE.

Covid-19 Hardship Fund

Funds were specifically raised to help booksellers, bookshop staff and people in Publishing and since the beginning of the crisis we have given away over £200,000 to qualifying applicants.  If you are suffering from the pandemic or from the after effects of Covid itself, please use the form HERE

"The grant from The Book Trade Charity in May was a god-send. It helped me to pay bills over the summer, and has given me time to look for more work. During this crisis, so many people have slipped between the cracks of government funding, and it’s schemes like this that have saved them."

Internship Support and Entry Into The Book Trade

Young people (normally under 35 years) who would like to apply for support in seeking to enter the book industry, in apprenticeships, internships (which must be paid) or first/second roles in the trade should read the guidelines in the link below, and use the application form HERE.

If you are not sure about how to apply, an exploratory phone call to us, on 01923 263128 would be welcome.