Our offer to schools
Events for children and young people
We’re hosting a range of events for children and young people, because reading changes lives.
Eastbourne LitFest brings Angie Thomas’ powerhouse novel The Hate U Give to the screen!
Thanks to sponsorship from Eastbourne’s Area Group 2 secondary schools and our partnership with Towner, Eastbourne LitFest is treating students from local secondary schools to a special screening of the novel’s film adaptation at the Towner Cinema – plus a free copy of the book for every invited young person.
The Hate U Give is a masterpiece of young adult fiction – the tale of sixteen-year-old Starr who lives between the poor neighbourhood of her family home and the bougie world of her exclusive high school. Her world is shattered when her friend is shot to death by a police officer, leaving Starr as the only witness.
It’s a story of racial prejudice and inequality, but also of courage and the need for young people, especially those from disadvantaged worlds, to find their voice.
Angie champions young people who are disadvantaged by race, class and poverty, and considers the act of writing as a form of activism. Speaking about the young people at the heart of her book, Angie says: “Starr and Seven… all the kids in the book – they’re roses in concrete to me. They’re kids who are growing up in bad circumstances and bad situations but they’re still roses… they’re still shining… something to be in awe of.”
We are so grateful to Angie, to Walker Books and to the Area Group 2 schools for helping us inspire the next generation of readers, thinkers and activists. The screening takes place on Tuesday 22nd September and all places have now been allocated.
A very special competition… a very special event
We held a competition to find young fans to interview our patron at the LitFest! This event is going to be incredibly special, featuring fans from different generations, live on stage in front of an audience of up to 200 other fans! Our competition winners will join the panel to chat with Jacky about her stories and characters, her writing life and her brand new book, Esme Pepper.
Our schools’ parade
Our schools’ parade will launch the festival, bringing children and young people together in costume to celebrate reading and the books they love. Registrations are now closed. More news to follow!
Poetry By Heart
Eastbourne’s very own poetry recital competition will be presented in association with the national Poetry by Heart organisation.
On 24 September 2026, Eastbourne LitFest will hold its first Poetry By Heart event, featuring around one hundred children aged 5 - 16. Registrations for this event are now closed. More news to follow.