Thousands of books will be given out to children in low income families over the summer in a new initiative to promote literacy during the school holidays.
Manchester children’s charity Wood Street Mission is running three book clubs over the summer to extend access to good quality books to struggling families.
The events in central Manchester, Wythenshawe and Little Hulton allow children and their parents to browse and take home for good new and good quality second hand books and participate in a number of literacy based activities.
It follows on from the launch of the charity’s Books are GRRREAT Appeal earlier this year which highlighted the strong link between literacy and poverty and appealed for donations of children’s books. Children who are read to daily by their parents are much less likely to grow up in poverty than those who aren’t but children in low income families sometimes have few books at home.
Roseanne Sweeney, Wood Street Mission CEO said: “We know that children’s reading and writing skills can slip over the summer, particularly in families where there are few books at home. Our book clubs support and encourage reading by providing a free event where children can have fun and learn, and take home a large number of age appropriate books.”
The events start this Friday 31 July at the Addy Centre, Wythenshawe, followed by 21 August at Wood Street Mission, Manchester City Centre and 28 August at West Sure Start Children’s Centre in Little Hulton.
