World Book Day: What Books Might Our Projects Be?…

World Book Day is a chance to celebrate literacy and the joy that can come from reading stories that resonate with who we are and what we stand for. That’s why, this World Book Day, we have been thinking about what books each of our projects would be…

Faithworks

Overall, Faithworks is like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl… and not just because we have a sweet tooth! This beloved book is bursting with creative ideas, new innovations and exciting opportunities, just as we see emerging from our projects. Like Faithworks, Charlie’s story demonstrates how kindness and generosity – with a touch of imagination – can change lives for the better.

SMILE

Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree is “the best kind of place, full of excitement and adventures” – just like SMILE (even if our summer adventures are to Brownsea Island, rather than the Land of Topsy-Turvy).

The children at the heart of this book make great friends with the inhabitants of the Magic Faraway Tree, including Moonface and Silky the fairy, who support them throughout their journey. In the same way that their friendship helps the children escape unexpected troubles and enables their adventures to take place, so too is the incredible work of SMILE only possible due to the amazing work of our volunteers.

Nourish Community Larder and Foodbank

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess celebrates the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and trying new things.

One of the amazing things about this book is that Dr Suess used a vocabulary of only 50 words, after his editor bet him $50 that he wouldn’t manage it. Despite the restrictions, this book became one of the most successful children’s books of the last 100 years, selling over 8 million copies. Nourish has likewise demonstrated how amazing things can come from so little, having grown from 150 jars of donated curry sauce to a thriving hub that offers wider support for those in the DT11 area.

Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank

Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank is like E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children – full of kindness, generosity and friendship. The story demonstrates how joy can be found in the little things, and friends can be made in unlikely situations. The Railway Children also demonstrates the power of resilience and perseverance, even through the most difficult of times, with an ending offering hope that situations can change for the better.

Christchurch Foodbank+

Christchurch Foodbank+ demonstrates the beauty of sharing what you have with your community, just like Marcus Pfister’s The Rainbow Fish.

Instead of hoarding his material wealth, the Rainbow Fish gives out his shiny scales to the other fish around him and is amazed by the beauty of seeing his treasure shared out across the whole ocean. Likewise, Christchurch Foodbank+ helps those around them to shine – through community meals, recipe bags, their furniture bank, and much more.

Wimborne Foodbank+

Like Wimborne Foodbank+, The Magic Paintbrush by Julia Donaldson celebrates kindness and community. The story follows Shen, who is given a magic paintbrush that makes everything she paints come to life. Instead of using this gift for selfish ambition, she uses it to help the people in her community, giving them food on the table, toys for the children, and musical instruments for a celebration. Likewise, Wimborne Foodbank+ create magical family fun events, opportunities for the children, and food to go on tables – though this is through the hard work of our supporters and volunteers, not just the sweep of a brush.

Wimborne Community Garden

What story could be more fitting for this project than Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit? Like Wimborne Community Garden, this book celebrates the joy of the outdoors and the importance of nature, as well, of course, as a love of homegrown vegetables. Wimborne Community Garden provides fresh fruit and vegetables to Wimborne Foodbank+ and grow produce for students of Beaucroft College to use in their cafe.

Community Money Advice

Like CMA, Twist of Gold by Michael Morpurgo is a powerful tale of perseverance in times of adversity and hope for a better future. While the characters in this book are fleeing poverty, they demonstrate incredible resourcefulness and determination in pursuing a better life.  None of this would have been possible, though, without the help of friends they make along the way. Like those friends, Community Money Advice offers debt advice and budgeting support to those experiencing financial hardship, helping them to achieve greater financial freedom.

Community Money Advice

Like FW Homelessness, An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo highlights the power of kindness and the importance of home. The story follows Lizzie and her family as they navigate the chaos of war, taking an orphaned elephant with them as they flee their home. The story highlights the importance of family bonds and friendships as they support one another, as well as the resilience and hope it encourages. It also demonstrates the significance of having a place to call home, something that FW Homelessness knows all too well.

Hope into Action

Like A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond, Hope into Action highlights the importance of community support in helping individuals find a place to call home. Having travelled from Peru, Paddington Bear struggles to find a home in London before the Brown family offer him kindness and compassion. This beloved story teaches us that home is not merely having a roof over your head, but a place where you can feel safe and know you belong.

Arch Training

Like FW Arch Training, Matilda by Roald Dahl celebrates the power of learning and demonstrates the possibility of creating your own path in life. Despite finding herself in a difficult situation at home and at school, Matilda’s love of reading and her newly developed skill – the ability to move things with her mind – allows her to build a better life for herself.

Like Matilda, FW Arch Training helps people learn carpentry and barista skills to open new opportunities and offer a better future ahead.

Find out more about our projects below…