A local charity has worked with the council and other partners to gift more than 400 literacy packs to families during the coronavirus pandemic.
The packs, which included a copy of local author Addy Farmer’s picture book ‘A Place Called Home’, dictionaries and fun, literacy-inspired games, have been distributed through children’s centres and schools.
They proved so popular that a donations drive has now been launched, with local businesses already pledging more than £1,500 to the cause.
The project has been organised by the North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust, a charity helping young people across North Lincolnshire achieve their full potential through the life-changing power of literacy.
Any contributions that are received go directly to helping the Trust give more children in North Lincolnshire the essential literacy skills to succeed in life.
To make a donation, residents or businesses can visit The North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust website.
A donation of £5 could provide a book pack for families with babies on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Scunthorpe General Hospital. A £15 contribution could train a Volunteer Reading Champion to work with children in school, developing their reading skills and supporting them to enjoy reading for pleasure. £25 could provide a family with a fun literacy kit, which supports learning at home.
The Trust has paid tribute to the following organisations for their generous donations: Scunthorpe Rotary Club, Scunthorpe Lions, Wrendale Designs, Phillipa Hobson-Ellyatt, Shah’s Uniform, Paradise Min, Collins Dictionaries, Nettl Scunthorpe, CGP Books, Winning Moves, Booktrust and Tesco Scunthorpe.
As well as the inspiring work of the trust, the council also commits funding to North Lincolnshire’s Imagination Library, making a huge difference to children’s learning. Since the launch of the scheme more than 629,000 books have been delivered to 18,000 children across our area.
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“I would like to express my gratitude to all the businesses that have contributed to the literacy packs.
“Research has shown just how important reading is to young people, impacting on health and wellbeing, and helping them to achieve at school.
“In North Lincolnshire, we want all children to enjoy reading. The excellent work of the North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust has built on the foundations of our internationally celebrated Imagination Library scheme, ensuring our young people enjoy the best start in life.”
Cllr Julie Reed, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“This fantastic project has helped to share the joy of reading with more families across North Lincolnshire.
“Reading for pleasure is really important for young people as it helps the early development of language and communication skills.”
