"This year we will give out 250,000 books"

Bill Gibb learns about the Children's Book Project, a charity distributing books to children and families.

- Liberty Venn

THE joy of reading is something that never leaves you. For many children, though, it's a love that lies undiscovered, due to a lack of access to books vital for firing that lifelong passion.

The Children's Book Project is trying to set that right by redistributing new and what they call "gently used" books to children and their families.

Hundreds of thousands of books have been given out, transforming the potential of so many.

The charity was set up in London by Liberty Venn, who realised the need while working with other charities.

"I've been an avid reader since I was a child, and I'm lucky that I've been able to pass that on by buying books for my kids and getting them to the library," Liberty explains.

"I became aware of the lack of books for children, and how not having that ownership affects life outcomes.

"Parents who didn't read a lot when they were young don't realise how wonderful it is for their child to cuddle up and have a story.

"That one-to-one time is important in so many ways," she adds.