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Henley artist runs charity which delivers free books to schools all over the country




FATE can influence an individual’s life and change the path they’ve chosen into something quite different.

This happened to Henley painter and artist Julie de Bastion who has been recognised with a King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

Julie de Bastion, founder of Own Books. Photo: Mark Williamson
Julie de Bastion, founder of Own Books. Photo: Mark Williamson

Julie created an organisation which gives free books to children of all backgrounds and ages.

The artist, who spent time in New York and Florida, returned to the UK to continue her career in south Warwickshire. She established artist workshops in schools, which proved very popular, but an eye operation in 2013 meant she had to change her plans and it led to her hosting reading workshops in schools instead.

“It was all volunteer work and I loved reading to Year 5 and Year 6 at Henley Primary School, but I was astonished when I asked some children ‘what books do you have at home?’ and they replied they didn’t have any. I was very upset and flabbergasted,” Julie told the Herald

“So I started contacting charity shops, book shops and libraries and asked if they had any books they could give me which I could give them to children.

“Fortunately, they did have books and the pupils were delighted. The news spread fast and very soon Wootton Wawen, Stratford and Bishopton schools asked if they could have some of the books as well and it just got bigger and bigger.”

Soon schools in Coventry became involved and the charity project stretched further and further afield, with books heading to children in Birmingham, Leicester and Liverpool.

Eventually, Julie managed to meet with representatives from World of Books who agreed to help deliver books to schools as it wasn’t possible for Julie to tour the entire country.

“I often call it my pixie dust project because it all fell out of the sky,” she said. “The game changer for me was when we started to gather together our wonderful volunteers and applied for grants from Stratford Town Trust, Heart of England and the National Lottery.

“To watch children reading and writing and enjoying poetry and spending time dreaming is absolutely magical.

“We are a registered charity, so this is not about money, business or jobs, this is actually about love – that’s what it is.”

Julie, who was born in Stratford, has spent most of her life working in creativity and art. Now she works with a dedicated team of seven volunteers providing that extra incentive to children in schools who now have books in their hands and are inspired to read.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service will be presented to Julie by Tim Cox, the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire in the new year. And next spring there’s the little matter of a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to which Julie is invited.

In life, it’s funny how fate sometimes needs no invitation - it just turns up.



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