As a CIO and registered charity (Registered Charity Number 1192269), our charitable purpose is set out in our Constitution, along with our aims and objectives.
Our Objectives
The aim of the Books Council is to promote, encourage and develop the public’s appreciation and interest in books, literature and reading in Wales without limiting the overall objectives identified but rather to further those aims and not otherwise:
- to support and assist the book industry in Wales through grant awards and other means;
- to support, promote and assist the production and distribution of books and other literary and artistic material, in whatever form it may have been recorded (whether known or as yet unknown) in the two official languages of Wales, Welsh and English, or relating to Wales;
- to organise events supporting book promotion, reading and the book sector as a whole;
- to support the promotion and publication of such books and other material in Wales.
You can find out more by following this link to our Constitution:
Chief Executive
Helgard Krause was appointed Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales in April 2017, and she reports to the Chair and Board of Trustees. She is responsible for leading and setting the strategic direction of the Books Council and advocating for our sector with Welsh Government and Creative Wales, our principal funders.
Trustees
There are up to 12 Trustees on the Board. They are responsible for the governance of the Books Council and oversee the strategic direction of the charity. The Officers are:
Chair: Linda Thomas
Vice-Chair: Rona Aldrich
Treasurer: Alfred Oyekoya
The Board holds meetings four times a year and ensures the Books Council meets and maintains its objectives as a CIO as set out in our Constitution.
Council Membership
The membership includes representatives from local authorities and other organisations who, upon the new constitutional arrangements that began on 1 April 2021, became members of the charity.
An Annual General Meeting, which includes all members of the charity, is held once a year. The meeting is public and open to all.
The membership also includes representation from our subcommittees.
Subcommittees
The Books Council has three independent subcommittees which support our work.
The two Publishing Development Subcommittees (Welsh and English) are the independent panels that award grants to publishers.
The Reading Promotion Subcommittee has an advisory role and supports the work of the Children’s Books and Reading Promotion department.
Publishing Development Subcommittees
Publishing Development Subcommittee (Welsh-Language)
Nia Peris (Chair)
Robat Arwyn (Vice-chair)
Glenys Llewelyn
Gruff Ywain
Catrin Beard
Delyth Roberts
Alpha Evans
Buddug Hughes
Paige Morgan
Publishing Development Subcommittee (English-Language)
Prof Matthew Jarvis (Chair)
Philip Gwyn Jones
Joe Shooman
Akosua Darko
Chinyere Chukwudi-Okeh
Rhodri Mogford Jones
Hannah Evans
Angharad Thomas
Beth McAulay
Children's Books and Reading Promotion Subcommittee
Dr Siwan M. Rosser (Chair)
Gwawr Maelor
Simon Fisher
Luke Upton
Susan Jones
Elaine Canning
Dr Andy Webb (Trustee)
We also welcome representatives from:
Books Council Board of Trustees
BookTrust Cymru
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Literature Wales
MALD
Young People's Panel
Mared Fflur (Chair)
Alexander
Bethan
Edward
Elin
Gwenno
Jona
Joshua
Lleucu
Mei
Nikki
Friends of the Books Council of Wales
The Friends of the Books Council of Wales was established in 1995, to promote our work and to support the books sector in Wales in both Welsh and English.
Volunteering
We are grateful to the members of the Board of Trustees and subcommittees, who carry out their work as volunteers. You can find out how you can support our work as a Trustee or on a subcommittee on our volunteering page.