A new reading group in Dumbarton has secured more than £5,000 in funding from the Dumbarton Common Good Fund to support the launch of The 2 Rivers Children’s Book Festival. The grant, approved by the Corporate Services Committee, will help the group plan, promote, and host the first year of the festival, which aims to celebrate books and inspire children and families to enjoy reading together.
The festival will focus on making books fun, accessible, and engaging, encouraging children to develop healthy reading habits that support both academic achievement and overall wellbeing. The funding will cover a wide range of costs including marketing, author and illustrator fees, volunteer expenses, venue hire, and creative promotional materials designed to engage families in an enjoyable community event.
The Dumbarton Common Good Fund, which had a balance of £367,828 earlier this year, is dedicated to supporting local groups and charities. Councillor William Rooney welcomed the approval, stressing the importance of encouraging young people to build a love of reading from an early age. Vice Convener Councillor Lawrence O’Neill added that the fund continues to play a vital role in supporting initiatives that bring lasting benefits to the Dumbarton community.
Sheila Jarvie, Project Leader of The 2 Rivers Children’s Book Festival, expressed her gratitude for the funding, describing it as a “vital boost” that makes the festival possible. She highlighted the group’s passion for reading and their mission to inspire children by making books enjoyable and relevant. Citing research that reading for pleasure is the strongest predictor of a child’s future success, she emphasized the importance of the festival in helping to build a culture of reading within West Dunbartonshire.
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