Books With Purpose Returns to Cavendish Square, Turning Pre-Loved Reads Into Support for 14 Charities

Cape Town, 31 August 2026 — Book lovers can combine a good read with a good cause this September when Books With Purpose, Cavendish Square’s annual charity book sale, returns from Thursday, 17 September to Sunday, 20 September 2026.

The four-day sale will take place on the lower ground and ground levels of Cavendish Square, bringing together thousands of pre-loved books and 14 local charities and community organisations.

Proceeds from books sold will support the participating organisations, which work across areas including animal welfare, healthcare, homelessness, child support and services for people with disabilities.

Whether shoppers are searching for a novel, a holiday read, children’s books or an unexpected second-hand find, the sale offers an opportunity to discover something new while helping organisations doing valuable work in communities across the Cape.

Turning Pages Into Support

Fourteen organisations will participate in this year’s Books With Purpose sale:

• Doing It For The Orphans
• Lamberts and Elands Bay Animal Protection Society
• St Luke’s Combined Hospices
• Nazareth House
• Plumpets Animal Shelter
• Animal Rescue Organisation
• Domestic Animal Rescue Group
• TEARS Animal Rescue
• SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind
• Woodside Special Care Centre
• Cat Trapping and Sterilisation Network
• U-turn Homeless Ministries
• Help the Rural Child
• Sinako After School Care

For Cavendish Square, the annual event provides a simple way for the wider community to support a range of causes.

A book that has already been read and enjoyed can find a new home while helping generate funds for organisations that depend on community support.

“There is something very special about seeing our community come together to support so many different causes through something as simple as buying a book,” says Cavendish Square Centre Manager Faizah Behardien.

“We encourage Capetonians to visit the sale, enjoy the experience of finding a great pre-loved read and, importantly, help these organisations continue the valuable work they do.”

More Than Two Decades of Giving

The charity book sale has its roots in an initiative started more than 20 years ago by Beverley Whelehan, who brought charities together and created an opportunity for them to raise funds through the sale of pre-loved books.

Her sister, Rosalie Jack, now manages the book sale and says the enthusiasm of the participating organisations remains central to its success.

“What began with my late sister Beverley over two decades ago has grown into an event that the charities and our supporters genuinely look forward to each year,” says Jack.

“There is always such wonderful energy around the sale and it is incredibly rewarding to see books passed on to new readers while helping the participating organisations raise much-needed funds. We hope Cape Town’s book lovers will once again come out in numbers and support them.”

A Good Read With a Good Cause

Books With Purpose offers shoppers the chance to browse thousands of pre-loved titles while contributing to organisations making a difference in communities across the Cape.

The sale runs from 17 to 20 September 2026 at Cavendish Square in Cape Town.

A chance to discover something unexpected

Part of the appeal of the Books With Purpose sale is the opportunity to discover something different. From well-loved fiction and non-fiction to children’s books, holiday reading and unexpected second-hand finds, the selection offers something for readers of different ages and interests.

For visitors, the sale is also a reminder that giving a pre-loved book a second life can make a meaningful difference. Instead of gathering dust on a bookshelf, a book can be passed on to another reader while helping participating charities raise funds for the work they do throughout the year.

With 14 organisations benefiting from the initiative, every purchase contributes to a wider community effort. Cavendish Square is encouraging shoppers to set aside time during the four-day sale to browse the collection, find a new favourite and support the organisations taking part.

For information about Cavendish Square’s stores, promotions and events, visit Cavendish Square or follow the centre on Instagram at Cavendish Square on Instagram.

Event Details

Event: Books With Purpose Charity Book Sale
Dates: 17–20 September 2026
Venue: Cavendish Square, Cape Town
Location: Lower ground and ground levels
Beneficiaries: 14 local charities and community organisations