THE DEPLETED shelves of school libraries are being restocked thanks to Stratford Literary Festival.
The festival has vowed to refill the shelves of five local primary schools.
And The Big Give Arts for Impact initiative will match pound for pound the cash raised by the festival up to £2,500.
Festival director Annie Ashworth said: ‘Schools are facing enormous financial challenges, and their libraries are often bottom of the funding list. Access to books, especially for the large number of children who don’t have even one at home, is very important for all children.”
Cash raised and matched during the festival’s fundraising campaign, which runs from Tuesday (March 19) to Tuesday March 26 will go towards restocking the school libraries at Bishopton
Primary School in Stratford, Shottery St Andrew’s C of E Primary, Studley St Mary’s C of E Academy, Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Alcester, and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Princethorpe.
Ms Ashworth continued: “We are asking anyone who cares about the value of books and reading to help us raise the money. Five pounds will buy one book, and ten pounds will buy two, and with the Big Give matched funding that will be four books and so on.”
Shottery St Andrews Head Louise Withers added: “A school library should be the heart of reading within a school, something which we are currently lacking. Although we have been creative with the space available, our current ‘library’ is not readily accessible for all children in the school, limiting opportunities for reading for pleasure, which plays such a valuable role in both pupil well-being, academic performance and vital life skills. This campaign will be vital in achieving our vision and we are delighted to be taking part.”
Donations can be made at https://bit.ly/3T9Q3k2
Stratford Literary Festival runs from May 1 to May 5.
