By Dan Vevers

Copyright dailyrecord

The nation’s bookshops have been hailed a haven for people suffering from mental health issues and a place for kids to discover the joy of reading. Next Saturday, October 11, marks Bookshop Day in the UK and Ireland – and it comes as Scotland faces both a mental health crisis and falling child literacy rates. But Scotland’s growing footprint of independent bookshops and chains is filling a gap in communities and helping young and old alike find joy in reading , shop owners say. Jennifer Batchelor, founder of Chapters of Thornhill in Dumfries-shire, has been amazed at how busy her store is since opening last December. She said: “Bookshops are on the up. It no longer feels we’re just a bookshop, we’re also a community hub. People settle in front of my fire with a coffee from next door and sit for hours reading books they’ve bought. It’s just lovely. “I’m so aware of the number of our older people who can’t afford to heat their homes . As humans we need to be more connected and look after each other, it’s so important for mental health.” One in four Scots suffer with their mental health . Meanwhile, 2023 data found just 27 per cent of eight to 18-year-olds read daily or almost daily and only four in 10 enjoy reading. Former history teacher Jennifer noticed falling literacy levels in school. She said: “Very few picked up a book to read for pleasure. I thought they’re missing out on so much. I wanted this place to be somewhere people would bring their children and sit and read together.” Elaine Sinclair, who quit a high-powered 15-year career as a lawyer to start up Daydreams Bookshop in Milngavie , near Glasgow, told of her surprise at her store becoming a refuge for all ages. Elaine, who opened Daydreams last year, said: “There’s a lot of elderly people in Milngavie and lots of people who perhaps don’t otherwise speak to a lot of people during the day. “It’s nice to have the bookshop plug a bit of a gap with there being fewer libraries around and community and youth centres closing down. “I know how important it is to get kids into books as young as you can. It does so much for the community, builds empathy amongst children and all sorts of different skills.” Both stores run regular events and signings with authors to engage both kids and adults, often for free. In Edinburgh, husband and wife Martyn and Liz Bryson are preparing to open the city’s first specialist cookbook shop later this year. Martyn said: “We want to offer our community a place to learn and discover where everyone is welcome and represented. Our community is multicultural, multilingual, queer and in so many different kinds of relationship with food and cooking.” Highland-based kids’ author LD Lapinski – known for bestsellers like JAMIE, Stepfather Christmas and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency series – said: “Bookshops are far from just another retail outlet – they are an escape to other worlds. “Children and young people should be encouraged to discover the stories they enjoy, where they can see characters who reflect themselves and their families. “Bookshops on the high street are also a place where shoppers have the chance to spend their money locally, and in response the local economy keeps turning and the high street stays alive – they are a genuine part of people’s lives.”