Cannock Soroptimists are excited to be able to support Rotary Books4Home, a charity they’ve had involvement with for some time – and this is a perfect way to mark International Literacy Day 2020. Rotary Books4Home is organised and managed locally by Beverley Ricketts, honorary member of the Rotary Club of Cannock. She was inspired by an article she read a few years ago: the article explained that Rotarians had discovered that the children in the school they were working in had very little access to books at home. In response to this the Rotary Club donated pre-read books to the school. The children were able to choose a book, take it home and keep it forever.
With a little further research Beverley discovered that it is not uncommon for children to have limited access to books at home.
This year, more than ever, because of Covid-19, Literacy needs to be a priority. International Literacy Day 2020 focuses on this issue and highlights the fact that 1 in 8 disadvantaged children don’t own a single book. These children will be held back at every stage of their lives. They will struggle to do well in school or to find a job, and when they become parents won’t be able to support their own child’s learning – creating a vicious cycle of deprivation.
Cannock Soroptimists are so pleased to be supporting this project which gives children more opportunities to own books and enjoy reading and so to have better chances in life.
Soroptimists are supplying Rotary Books4Home with books which would otherwise be pulped – thereby reducing waste at the same time as enabling children to own books and improve their levels of literacy. Most weeks, Cannock Soroptimists collect books from a charity warehouse, paying a small administrative charge along with an amount per kilo, then take the books to the Books4Home offices. So far they have delivered over 400 books!! Beverley and the Team prepare the books for delivery to schools where children: -choose a book; -take it home; -read it; -keep it.
SI Cannock & District are delighted to be able to mark International Literacy Day in such a special way – and to mark it all year round!!
Photo attached: some of the books delivered to Beverley recently