NEWS NEWS...
Wickes delivers support for schools amid budget pressures
Doorstep Library, a leading London literacy charity, has launched its 2024 Big Give Campaign for the fourth consecutive year.
The #ChampionsForChildren campaign is designed to address low literacy rates across London, where funds raised will enable volunteers to run shared reading sessions with over 900 children in the boroughs of Westminster, Lambeth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Camden and Kensington & Chelsea. Doorstep Library relies on funds to deliver high-quality training and safeguarding, to recruit dedicated volunteers, and to purchase new and diverse children’s books. They offer a free service and rely on the generosity of their supporters to keep their weekly reading sessions running. Support with literacy is needed now more than ever, as children in the UK face significant gaps in learning post-pandemic. Adding to this, the cost-of- living crisis has made access to affordable literature increasingly difficult, with 1 in 5 children in the UK not owning a single book (National Literacy Trust). Doorstep Library’s volunteers work as ‘reading buddies’ for families, who arrive on the doorstep or online with books for children and read with them. Parents are encouraged to join in, building a foundation for enthusiastic reading from childhood.
Home improvement retailer Wickes announced that schools represent the largest segment of the community supported by the Wickes Community Programme in the first half of this year. More than 50% of donations went to projects in schools 2023, and the trend is continuing in 2024. This initiative provides invaluable assistance to schools across the country, donating essential products to help create and maintain vibrant learning environments.
In a time when school budgets are increasingly strained due to rising staffing and utility costs, many schools are relying heavily on donations from companies like Wickes and fundraising efforts by Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) to provide necessary extras for playgrounds and outdoor spaces. According to the National Curriculum, “Learning outside the classroom can provide opportunities to develop and practice skills involving communication, collaboration, numeracy, leadership, creativity, and innovation” (Source: National Curriculum, January 2023). This underscores the importance of creating engaging and functional outdoor and additional learning spaces in schools.
Among the most popular requests from schools are sheds repurposed as quiet reading spaces and classroom kitchens. These enhancements have proven to be transformative. Zoe Watson, a reception teacher at Deanshanger Primary School, expressed her gratitude, saying: “This new space is transformational and will enhance learning in many ways. Following a recipe helps children read for a purpose and follow instructions; cooking is very sensory and develops awareness as they prepare and taste new foods; mixing, stirring, and chopping improves motor development; weighing and measuring support mathematical development, and most excitingly, it provides a great sense of accomplishment.”
The Wickes Community Programme is open to all charities and community organisations seeking to transform or maintain their spaces. By providing free Wickes products, the programme aims to support the creation of enriching environments that foster learning and community engagement. Doorstep Library hopes to close learning gap post-pandemic
6
www.education-today.co.uk June 2024
The charity is hoping to raise £25,000 towards their reading projects which will be doubled to £50,000 under ‘The Big Give’ with all donations to be matched. So, for every £10 donated, £20 will be given to support Doorstep Library’s work. They are also asking the public to engage with the campaign via social media and spread the word to friends and family. CEO Katie Bareham, one of Doorstep Library’s first volunteers, says: “We know that low literacy carries life-long implications for children. We believe all children should be able to access books with ease outside the classroom, and are committed to closing the disadvantage gap which has unfortunately widened post-pandemic. Instilling a love of reading increases opportunities not just in school, but in later life too.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank our community, whose generous support has allowed us to deliver books to over 2,000 children across the UK to date. We truly believe that every story read is a story changed. This year’s Champions for Children Campaign will mean our volunteers can reach new families in London and continue to bring the magic of reading to those who need it the most.”
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
