Preston North End Community and Education Trust has marked World Book Day for 2021 by delivering 400 free books to a number of local primary schools.
As part of a wider donation of 25,000 books from the Premier League and the National Literacy Trust, PNECET is giving away 400 children’s books, with a variety of titles, including the popular Football School range.
Now in its 24th year, World Book Day is a charity in the UK and Ireland that is funded by publishers and booksellers and sponsored by National Book Tokens, celebrating reading among children annually.
📚 For #𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝘿𝙖𝙮, we have given away 4⃣0⃣0⃣ free books to support the reading of local primary school children! 🙌
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) March 4, 2021
The donation has been made in partnership with @Literacy_Trust and @PLCommunities for #WBD2021. 😁
👇 #pnefc #WordsForLife #PLPrimaryStars #PNECET pic.twitter.com/RhtiASBegy
The Trust has delivered books to a number of local primary schools in some of Preston’s most deprived areas to support children’s learning.
PNECET Schools Provision Co-ordinator Jack Mountain said: “World Book Day is an annual celebration of reading. We have worked with the National Literacy Trust to deliver 400 books to primary school children as part of the day.
“We wanted to distribute these books to children in schools in Preston’s most deprived areas. As part of our Premier League Primary Stars programme, it is important to support children with their reading skills and encourage them to read.
“Schools have received a variety of titles, for key stage one and two, covering many topics, including football.
“It’s important that these books will help children’s learning, as due to Covid-19, many pupils have had time off from school and missed out on that vital reading time.”
Among the schools to have received free books from PNECET are St. Ignatius Catholic Primary School and Grange Primary School.
Catherine Carruthers, St. Ignatius Librarian and Admin Officer, said: “Reading has a big impact on the children and the more fresh stock we get, the better.
“The children do appreciate the reading. It helps with their literacy and their reading, and in some ways social skills. They come into the library, it’s a sheltered place for them, and they enjoy choosing new books.
Rachel Marquis-Box, Grange’s Phonics and Early Reading Lead, added: “We are always looking at ways to engage children and instil a love of reading in our children.
“The books will be used across school in class libraries and in lunch time activity boxes for all children to enjoy. In school children are given opportunities to choose their own reading material. Having more books provided by PNECET will improve engagement and enhance our reading material in school and for children to take home.
“Working with PNE is a strong community link for our children and families. Knowing the books have been provided by the football club will bring familiar role models into their learning. Children who may not have been inclined previously to read for pleasure will be inspired to pick up a book donated by their role models.”
For more information about World Book Day, click here, and to learn more about PNECET’s primary schools provision, please email jack.mountain@pne.com.