Redcar-based charity Footprints in the Community has launched The Book Club, an innovative project which aims to improve children’s literacy in Redcar and Cleveland.
The scheme will distribute books and literacy materials to local disadvantaged families, making access to reading much easier and supporting families with their child’s education and development.
The project is the idea of Anna Turley, who is working with Footprints in the Community to make the project a reality. The first phase of the project aims to raise enough money to deliver 3 books per child to at least 100 families, in time for the Christmas holidays.
Project Manager Anna says, “Times are really tough and people are struggling to pay for bills and food, so there’s little left to help with other vital things like children’s books. This project aims to reach children, particularly those in the most deprived areas, to ensure they have a greater access to books, more support for literacy development and to spark a love of learning to last a lifetime.”
Initially the families involved in the project will already be working with a Footprints’ project, however this will hopefully grow in the future. A fundraising account has been set-up to raise funds to help buy books for the scheme. Anna continued, “the more money that we can raise, the more local families the project will be able to help”.
New and unwrapped books can be donated at Footprints in the Community’s offices at 10 Queen Street in Redcar. You can find out more about the project and how to donate by visiting www.facebook.com/RedcarBookClub
Ruth Fox, CEO of Footprints in the Community, “At Footprints in the Community we are always looking for new ways to support local people struggling with poverty and isolation. When Anna approached us, we felt it was incredibly important to be involved. It’s such a simple idea, but with the potential to have such a positive impact on the life-chances of local children.”
Anyone interested in volunteering to help package and deliver books can email thebookclub@footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk
