Would you or your business like to inspire a new generation of readers?

The Oxford Literary Festival Charitable Trust (OLFCT) is the charity that works with the main Oxford Literary Festival held at Christ Church College each March/April. Its purpose is to provide an outstanding education and outreach programme of events right across Oxfordshire, focusing on literature, poetry and the written and spoken word. Our aim is to inspire new generations of readers.

In 2007 over 2,500 children attended our two school days held in Oxford and a further 500 visited our Reader-in-Residence at libraries around the county and over 100 participated in the Youth Poetry Slam. Our intention is to run a week of events every year for 10,000 children and young people, particularly those who might not otherwise have access to high quality book events. A year-round programme of county-wide events is also envisaged.

OLFCT also runs a range of events around Oxfordshire, involving minority groups such as the homeless, asylum seekers and looked after children, and plans to extend this to other groups throughout the county.

How the World Came to Oxford

In 2007 OLFCT published How the World Came to Oxford: Refugee Stories Past and Present by Nikki van der Gaag with photographs by Rory Carnegie, based on the Festival's exhibitions of work at Modern Art Oxford by young refugees and asylum seekers, together with new work by older refugees. It is an arresting book, telling the stories of refugees who have made their homes in Oxford after leaving their countries due to persecution. Some have been here for a few weeks, some for more than 50 years. They are extraordinary stories of courage, endurance – and humour.

Copies (£9.99) can be purchased through Blackwell or please contact: oxford.literary.festival@ntlworld.com (Profits to Asylum Welcome and Refugee Resource).

2008 sees another exciting programme of events for schools throughout the county (see Schools Days link), the 8th Oxfordshire Youth Poetry Slam, a Short Story Competition for KS1 & 2, a Reader in Residence touring county libraries and a project for looked after children in East Oxford and 30 events for children at the Festival itself.

The OLFCT is supported this year by Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University Press, and Awards for All.

If you or your business are interested in becoming involved and helping us to fund this work, then to find out more please contact Angie Prysor-Jones:

T: 01865 514149 E: oxford.literary.festival@ntlworld.com

If you would like to make a donation to OLFCT to help us with this work then please download, print and return the form which can be found following this link.

Thank you!