Booktrust cancels three literature prizes
29th June 2011
Booktrust has cancelled three of its literary prizes in the face of ongoing problems over funding.
The organisation, which helps to promote reading and engagement with literature, particularly among younger people, revealed that the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Booktrust Early Years Awards and the Booktrust Teenage Prize will not be run in 2011.
Booktrust described the last few months as 'particularly challenging', with a funding settlement with the Department for Education enabling the organisation to continue its book-giving programme but necessitating cuts elsewhere.
'As a result of this review, we have taken the difficult decision not to run the John Llewellyn Rhys in autumn 2011. We have not taken this decision lightly and we strongly intend to bring back the prize with a bang in the very near future,' Booktrust stated.
It also vowed to revamp the Booktrust Early Years Awards and the Booktrust Teenage Prize once further sources of funding have been established.