Marcus Rashford launches book club to help kids experience ‘escapism’ of reading

The launch follows Rashford's campaign to provide children with free school meals

Marcus Rashford has launched a book club with the aim of allowing children to experience the "escapism" of reading. Teaming up with Macmillan Children's Books, Rashford has stated that he wants all children to be in the position to be able to read when they want, not just "those that can afford it", citing his own family's prioritisation of putting "food on the table" over reading when he was a child. Rashford said: "I only started reading at 17, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality. "I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table. "There were times where the escapism of reading could have really helped me. I want this escapism for all children. Not just those that can afford it. "We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments. That has to change. "My books are, and always will be, for every child, even if I have to deliver them myself. We will reach them." YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice And Be The BEST You Can Be, an illustrated non-fiction title co-written by The Athletic journalist Carl Anka and performance psychologist Katie Warriner, will be the first title to be released, in May of next year. Macmillan Children's Books has said that it will focus on providing books to children in under-privileged backgrounds. Rashford's book club launch follows on from the Manchester United striker's ongoing campaign to ensure free school meals are provided to children from under-privileged families. As someone who availed of free school meals as a child himself, Rashford has placed enormous pressure on the reluctant Tory government and helped raise millions to ensure that children in the UK would not go hungry during school holidays.