Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Penguin Books distribute over 4,000 books to secondary schools across the district

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Bradford 2025) and Penguin Books have teamed up to donate 4,000 books to local secondary schools, including alternative provision and SEND schools across the district. The books, by a diverse range of authors, will help improve literacy skills in secondary schools and encourage young people to foster a deeper understanding of literature.   

The books featured include works by famous authors such as Bernadine Evaristo, Marie Lu, Yuval Noah Harari and many others. The donation builds on Penguin’s Lit in Colour campaign, which gives schools the support and tools they need to introduce more books by writers of colour into the classroom, and the Libraries for Primaries, a campaign it co-founded with the National Literacy Trust, that highlights the impact of reading for pleasure on a child’s academic performance, well-being and success in life.  

This donation forms one element of the ongoing partnership between Bradford and Penguin Books to mark the city’s 2025 City of Culture campaign. To create a lasting cultural impact across the district, the organisations have curated a programme of activity that will help nurture a love of reading and support the local community’s literary ambitions. This includes workshops for aspiring writers, teacher development opportunities, and careers workshops for students aimed at promoting a diverse range of stories and the world of publishing. 

Bradford district is the birthplace of the Brontës, Andrea Dubar, JB Priestley, John Braine, is the set of AA Dhand’s Virdee books and is home of two famous literary festivals. Words form part of the district’s history and future. Through its partnership with Penguin Books, Bradford 2025 want to showcase the district’s literary heritage during its UK City of Culture Year, promoting reading and inspiring communities across the district.  

Bradford’s year in the spotlight started in January and Bradford 2025 have set out to showcase the district’s contemporary culture and the district’s rich heritage. Bradford 2025’s work with Penguin Books is one of the ways the UK City of Culture is working with national partners throughout 2025 to enhance the cultural offering in the district.  

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture said:
We’re proud to join forces with Penguin Books for an exciting year of championing reading, creativity, and storytelling across Bradford! Words and literature are woven into the fabric of our city—shaped by our authors, festivals, and vibrant spoken word traditions. Together, we’ll inspire young people to dive into new stories, spark their imaginations, and embrace a lifelong love of reading. This partnership will bring lasting benefits – one where every child can see themselves in stories, find their voice, and be inspired to create the future. The impact of this collaboration will be felt long after our year as UK City of Culture, shaping generations to come”.

Bradford 2025’s other literature projects and initiatives include:  

Wandering Imaginations
Bradford 2025 are inviting four emerging writers – two from Bradford, two from Ghana – to create four new fantasy and sci-fi stories, inspired by the Brontës’ imaginary Angria, Gondal and Glasstown yet rooted in the writers’ own imaginations. Written following residencies at Pa Gya! A Literary Festival in Accra and the Brontë Parsonage Musuem in Howarth, their creations will be published both as stories and as digital animations as part of the annual Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing in September 2025 and at Pa Gya! the following month. 

The Book of Bradford
Commissioned by Bradford 2025, Comma Press are producing new short story collection The Book of Bradford, the latest iteration of their Reading The City series. Edited by Saima Mir and featuring a new story from award winning God’s Own Country author Ross Raisin, Bradford joins cities such as Tokyo, Istanbul, and Barcelona in having a publication of newly commissioned short stories inspired by the locations, stories, and people of their cities. 

More information to be announced. 

BBC Contains Strong Language
On 18-21 September the BBC’s Contains Strong Language poetry festival will be arriving in Bradford, with more details to be announced soon. The festival will be a celebration of poetry in all forms and will comprise of performances, readings, events and activities at venues across the city. Contains Strong Language will be delivered in partnership with Word Up North and the BBC. 

Share Your Story: Bradford Stories Bus
Bradford 2025 and the National Literacy Trust in Bradford are going on tour this year – starting in Wibsey on the 22 March 2025.  

Share Your Story: On Board at The Beacon
On 26 April 2025, On Board at The Beacon will take place, featuring a full day of story workshops and activities for children aged 5–11.