Lichfield & Tamworth Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber Patrons
Contact: Chris Brewerton T: 077534 53624
New reading app to help kids learn
A Midlands-based technology start-up has invented a revolutionary new app aimed to help improve the way children learn to read and experience stories. Yap Books is the brainchild of Benjamin
Ridgway, of Yap Technology Ltd, a company bringing new visually aided learning to books, with the aim of making the processes of reading and learning more engaging and rewarding. Yap, based at the Enterprise Centre in
Tamworth, is a learning platform where stories come to life with the use of voice activated technology, enabling readers to trigger animations, sounds, videos, images and digital content completely in sync with their storytelling. The system utilises a multi-sensory and child-
centred approach, captivating each sense and ensuring that every reading experience is more intriguing and memorable. Yap Books also marks a major leap forward in
the field of literacy assessment, by utilising voice technology to listen to children read and then generating individualised data analysis from what is heard. This enables teachers and parents to gain a
greater understanding of a child’s reading level and ability, and can help to identify achievement and to assist with the implementation of child centred interventions.
Yap Books is available free of charge to all
schools. Product developer and founder Benjamin
Ridgway said: “The Yap Books concept was first born while exploring ways to help our son overcome delayed speech. This prompted me to begin developing software that could provide instant visual feedback and animated rewards in response to his speech and pronunciation.
Chamber’s big-match boost
Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce will be the main match sponsor at an upcoming home fixture for Tamworth Football Club. The Chamber will be supporting the club’s
match on 9 February against St Neots Town FC. The sponsorship is part of ‘concerted efforts’
to engage the business community, according to Chris Brewerton, divisional head of Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce. He said: “Our link up with Tamworth FC is an important step for the Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce and our concerted efforts in 2019 to engage with the business community in the Tamworth area. “The football club is a historic and important
organisation in the community and we are delighted to be sponsoring an upcoming game in February and supporting David Morrell on the commercial side of their operation.” Mr Morrell, who is commercial manager at
Tamworth FC, said: “We are looking forward to working with the Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber through our annual membership in 2019 to further the already successful commercial operation here at The Lamb.” The Lamb is the historic name of Tamworth’s
ground, although this year it has been renamed the CR MOT Centre Community Stadium, following a sponsorship deal with a local car service centre.
52 CHAMBERLINK February 2019
Match sponsor (from left): George Delves, Chris Brewerton and David Morrell
“Our son seemed very engaged with this
method and I believe that it has helped to develop his speech far quicker. “We are happy to see the Yap concept fully
developed into a product which is now readily available to help children of all ages and abilities, whether as a speech development tool, or to simply provide a more immersive reading experience.”
Improved access at railway station
Work has begun on a £2.3m project at Lichfield’s Trent Valley railway station to improve its accessibility. The Network Rail project will see the
installation of new lifts to help disabled rail users. The investment has come directly from the Department for Transport’s ‘Access for All’ programme, which was launched in 2006 to improve accessibility at railway stations nationwide. Nusrat Ghani MP, transport accessibility
minister, said: “The new lifts at Lichfield will allow disabled passengers to access the station independently and with confidence. “It’s vital that we remove barriers to
travel faced by disabled people across the network. We know we are making good progress towards this goal, but there is more to do, which is why we announced up to £300m as part of the Inclusive Transport Strategy to extend the Access for All programme.” Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said: “This
will be a major improvement to this important local interchange railway station which connects the all-important West Coast Main Line with the Cross City Line.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89
