A-list celebrities support Brownies Bookmark Project

A record number of celebrities, authors and illustrators have come together this year to support the Burley Brownies Bookmark Project.

The Bookmark Project runs from January to May each year and is in its eighth year. At the beginning of the year the girls of 1st Burley Brownies and their leaders write letters to their favourite authors, illustrators and celebrities asking them to doodle a bookmark.

In May each year the bookmarks are gathered and auctioned online to raise as much money as possible for Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe. The auction is hosted by jumblebee and members of the public can bid on their favourite bookmarks between 6th and 20th May.

This year the Brownies have received over 550 bookmarks including bookmarks from Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, Axel Sheffler, Jo Brand, Joanna Lumley, Hayley Mills, Neil Morrisey, Steve Pemberton, Julian Clary and many more.

The Bookmark Project is now in its eighth year and all the money raised is used to support Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe.   All the bookmarks received will be sold by auction, between 6th-20th May and members of the public can bid on their favourite bookmarks.

Brownie Leader Sharon Hattersley said: “Over the years the Brownies have helped to raise over £50,000 for the school.  This money has helped to build blocks of toilets, provide desks and benches for all the classrooms and supported several other projects. This year we have been very excited to watch the nursery classrooms we are building take shape which we hope will be completed soon.

“This year funds raised will go towards finishing the nursery classrooms we are currently building for the youngest children at the school who currently have nowhere to hold their lessons. We will also use the funds to ensure that the new classrooms are fitted out with all the furniture, toys and equipment that the teachers will need to give the pupils the best start possible to their schooling. Our next project will be to create a building space for a school library which we hope will in the future be accessible by the whole community.

“1st Burley Brownies are 28 girls aged 7 to 10 years old and their leaders, we are based in the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale near Ilkley and have supported Katiyo school for over 20 years. The group has exchanged letters and WhatsApp messages with the teachers and children at the school and I have visited the school twice.”

The auction can be found at www.jumblebee.co.uk/bookmarkproject2024