A book can start a different conversation

Books that can start conversations. Challenge thinking. Support healing. And help break cycles of violence.

We’re putting 6,000 books into the hands of organisations and communities across the UK.

Not simply to sit on shelves. We want them to be read, shared, talked about and used to create change. We’re inviting schools, charities, community organisations, refuges, youth services, prisons, sports clubs, support services and others working with people and communities to apply for copies of This Is Not Yours to Carry and She Is Not Your Rehab.

If you know exactly where these books could make a difference, we want to hear from you.

Apply for books

Applications close: 9am on the 14 September

Two books. Two audiences. One bigger purpose.

This Is Not Yours to Carry

A book for children living with worry, fear or family harm.

This Is Not Yours to Carry helps children understand that some burdens aren’t theirs to carry.

It can be used to create safe, supportive conversations and help children make sense of difficult experiences.

It may be particularly useful for:

• schools and education settings;
• refuges and domestic abuse services;
• family support services;
• youth and community groups;
• men’s groups;
• organisations supporting children and families.

Books are supplied in quantities of:

40 / 80 / 120 copies

Please only apply for the number you genuinely expect to use. You do not need to apply for both books.

She Is Not Your Rehab

A book for men and boys aged 16+ about breaking cycles of harm by facing what’s underneath them.

She Is Not Your Rehab, by Matt and Sarah Brown, invites men to take responsibility for their own healing rather than placing that burden on women.

It creates an opportunity to talk about trauma, accountability, relationships, masculinity and breaking intergenerational cycles of violence.

It may be particularly useful for:

• prisons and criminal justice settings;
• mentoring programmes;
• sports clubs;
• men’s and boys’ programmes;
• youth services working with those aged 16+;
• community organisations;
• organisations working to prevent violence against women and girls.

Books are supplied in quantities of:

24 / 48 / 62 / 86 copies

Please only apply for the number you genuinely expect to use. You do not need to apply for both books.

Apply for books

More than a book drop

We want these 6,000 books to travel further than the boxes they arrive in. And, we want to know where they go. Who reads them. What conversations they start. What stays with people afterwards. And what happens next.

That’s why we’re asking organisations receiving books to become part of the wider campaign too.

We’d love successful organisations to help you share the journey, and we’ll amplify stories from communities across the UK as the books begin to land.

You might share a photograph of the books arriving, tell us about a conversation they started, send us feedback from readers or show us how you’ve incorporated them into your work.

Some organisations work in settings where public sharing isn’t appropriate. We understand that too. We’ll never expect you to publicly share sensitive information or identify the people you support.

What we will ask every successful organisation to do is provide us with some brief feedback about what happened when the books reached your community.

Together, those stories will help us understand the impact of putting 6,000 books into people’s hands.

Apply for books

Who can apply?

Applications are open to UK-registered organisations, groups, schools, prisons and services across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland that can put these books to meaningful use. One application may be submitted per organisation.

That could include criminal justice settings or services, VAWG support services and refuges, youth organisations, community groups, education settings, specialist support organisations and others.

You don’t need to specialise in violence against women and girls. What matters is who you’ll reach, how you’ll use the books and the difference they could make.

How are books allocated?

We have 6,000 books available and expect demand to exceed the number we can provide.

This isn’t first come, first served, a competition or a prize draw. Applications will be reviewed and selections made at OVOJ’s sole discretion. Applying does not guarantee an allocation. We will consider:

• who the books will reach;
• how they’ll be used;
• their potential to create conversation, support, learning or change;
• whether the quantity requested is realistic; and
• your ability to tell us what happened afterwards.

We’ll also aim for a fair geographic spread and to allocate books across a range of different settings.

OVOJ may award fewer books than requested, or offer a different title than the one applied for, based on availability and fit.

If you receive books

We’re asking you to help make them count.

Successful organisations agree to:

• use the books for the purpose described in their application;
• not sell or redistribute the books for commercial gain; and
• provide brief feedback about where the books went, how they were used and what happened as a result.

We’ll also ask what you feel able to do as part of the wider campaign. This might include posting when the books arrive, sharing a positive review or comment, sharing a favourite quote or passage, or writing a short blog or website post.

Public social sharing is not a condition of receiving books. Some organisations work in settings where it isn’t appropriate, and we’ll never expect you to share sensitive information or identify the people you support.

How it works

• Apply
  Tell us about your community and what you could do with the books.
• We review
  Applications are considered against the criteria.
• Books start moving
  Successful organisations receive their allocation.
• Start conversations
  Read them, share them and put them to work in your community.
• Tell us what happened
  Share some simple feedback so we can understand the collective impact of 6,000 books.

Apply for books

Key dates

Applications close: 9am, 14 September 2026
Successful organisations will be notified after applications have been reviewed.
OVOJ will arrange delivery to the address provided by successful applicants.

A few important things

There are a limited number of books available. Applying does not guarantee that you’ll receive books. OVOJ may offer fewer books than requested, or a different title, based on availability and fit.

Books must be used for the purpose described in the application and must not be resold or redistributed for commercial gain. She Is Not Your Rehab is intended for ages 16+.

All organisations receiving books must provide brief feedback on the reach and impact of the books. Organisations working with children or vulnerable adults confirm that they have appropriate safeguarding policies in place for their own delivery of the books and related activities.

Please protect the privacy and safety of the people you support. If you share photographs, identifiable quotes or case studies with us, you must have the appropriate permissions to do so. Photos, quotes or updates shared as part of the campaign may be used in OVOJ’s own communications, with credit given unless you request otherwise.

We’ll use the information in your application to assess your project and, if successful, arrange delivery and follow-up, in line with OVOJ’s privacy policy and data protection law: ourvoiceourjourney.org.uk/privacy-policy/

Applying won’t automatically add you to a mailing list. The application includes a separate Yes/No choice to agree to receive important updates from Our Voice Our Journey and She Is Not Your Rehab; this choice does not affect eligibility for a book allocation.

Delivery: OVOJ will arrange delivery to the address provided. Applicants are responsible for providing accurate delivery details. OVOJ is not liable for delays or issues caused by third-party couriers once books have been dispatched.

Questions? hello@ourvoiceourjourney.org.uk