HarperCollins

In September 2008 HarperCollins Publishers were delighted to announce that they were the first major publisher to partner with English PEN. HarperCollins has committed to a major three-year sponsorship which will allow English PEN to continue its valuable work defneding creative freedom and extending public debate so that the value of literature is clear to everyone.

Victoria Barnsley, Chief Executive and Publisher of HarperCollins UK and International, said: "The principles behind PEN are of vital importance to all of us in the industry and I'm very proud that HarperCollins has become the first major publisher in the UK to show our support by becoming a Silver PEN Partner. The fundamental right to freedom of expression faces new and complex challenges in the twenty-first century and English PEN is devising new inititatives to keep pace with the speed of change."

HarperCollins author and Nobel Prize Laureate, Doris Lessing, said: "As a life long supporter of PEN I am delighted that my publisher, HarperCollins, has made the commitment of becoming a Silver PEN member. This shows their dedication to writers' freedom across the world."

Jonathan Heawood, Director of English PEN, said: "We are delighted to be taking our long-standing relationship with HarperCollins into this exciting new phase. By working together, writers and publishers can do so much more to promote the power of the written word. I'm looking forward to developing our charitable work with the support and enthusiasm of everyone at HarperCollins."

Lisa Appignanesi, President, English PEN, said : "We are extremely pleased to welcome HarperCollins as our first Silver PEN partners. It will be exhilarating, as well as useful, to have the input of publishers alongside that of writers in English PEN's work to keep the terrain of free expression vibrant and open. We look forward to a stimulating partnership."

• As a Silver PEN partner, English PEN will hold workshops for HC staff, offer staff some complimentary tickets for regular Writers in Public events and generate content for HC newsletters.

• As a Silver PEN partner, HarperCollins will participate in English PEN's human rights work by donating Books to Prisoners, participate in English PEN's Readers and Writers programme by donating books for educational work in schools, prisons and community groups in the UK and suggest authors for forthcoming events.