A new foundation to support children's authors is being launched.

The GLL Literary Foundation, established by charitable social enterprise and libraries operator GLL, will provide assistance to budding authors.

It will offer 20 author bursary placements and additional support placements in areas where GLL operates public libraries under its 'Better' brand, including Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth, Dudley, and Lincolnshire.

Each author selected for a bursary placement will receive £750, along with further 'in kind' support valued at up to £4,000.

Authors will be partnered with a specialist local librarian mentor, who will help deliver a series of author events and provide networking opportunities with local booksellers, publishers, literary festivals, and schools.

Authors will also be offered three online training courses on brand identity, marketing, and business planning through the Start Up Business Libraries.

A secondary tier of online support will be given to an unlimited number of authors, along with a webinar with a librarian mentor on delivering successful author events, an invitation to a sector networking event, and free access to work from business library spaces.

Submissions are being sought from publishers who represent authors across all genres of children's literature, including picture books, early readers, chapter books, poetry, non-fiction, novels, graphic, and verse novels.

Applications will be open from November 15, 2024, until January 10, 2025.

The total combined value of cash bursaries and 'in-kind support' is estimated to be up to £100,000 per annum.

The GLL Literary Foundation's patron is former Children's Laureate, poet, and author Joseph Coelho OBE.

Mr Coelho said: "Becoming established as a children’s author is extremely challenging, it takes so much more than just writing a fantastic book.

"This new foundation will help authors promote their work and provide essential training and ongoing support.

"Libraries are very close to my heart and have played an important role in my journey as an author.

"I’m therefore delighted to support the GLL Literary Foundation."

Rebecca Gediking, GLL head of libraries, said: "Our goal in creating the GLL Literary Foundation is to champion authors at both a grassroots and national level; to support authors, young readers, publishers, and booksellers create a wonderful reading ecosystem that will inspire local communities and promote libraries."