AN INITIATIVE which provides free books to people experiencing homelessness plans to give 300 copies of the 2020 Booker Prize-winning novel Shuggie Bain.

The Streetreads project has revealed the Douglas Stuart novel topped the wish list from its service users and now the publisher of the book has supplied the copies.

Glasgow Times:

Hugh Hill, director of Services and Development at Simon Community Scotland, which hosts Streetreads, said: “We asked our teams and service users which books they would wish for and Shuggie Bain came top of the list. It is a story of a tough life, love and compassion which will resonate with many.

“We never dreamed we would have so many copies for our first ‘Give the Gift of Books Christmas Appeal’, and we are enormously grateful to Pan Macmillan and Douglas Stuart for their generosity.”

Sara Lloyd, Pan Macmillan’s Digital and Communications director, said: “We are pleased to be able to partner with Streetreads to gift 300 copies of Douglas Stuart’s Booker-winning Shuggie Bain this Christmas to those who are homeless and in need.

“Many of the people Streetreads supports have experienced past trauma and their homelessness is a consequence of a lifetime that has been impacted and influenced by their experiences.

“Shuggie Bain can speak to so many by reflecting a lived experience that is not often enough represented in books, and ultimately offer some hope.

“We are very grateful to Streetreads who not only provide support and accommodation to those on the streets but also help them to open up new horizons through books and reading, and we hope that the gift of Shuggie Bain and his story will help them in their vital outreach.”

Streetreads is still appealing for funds to support the project.

You donate via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/storiesconnectus