Despite having to miss World Book Day itself due to lockdown, Swindon Soroptimists were determined to ensure they maintained their annual donation of books to Drove Primary School in Swindon. Even with restrictions we managed to accumulate an outstanding 264 fiction and activity books, as once again we had wonderful support from Club members, friends and especially Marlborough Ladies Who Latte. As Project Officer Lydia Cardew said “with home schooling and missing their friends we felt it was even more important for children to be able to enjoy being immersed in a good story”.
It was a great shame not to be able to join the children and teachers at a World Book Day assembly as in the past, when we have been entertained by singing and dancing and as they are in a ‘bubble’ two members Lydia Cardew and Jackie Webb had arranged to simply drop off the book
s at the front door. However Ast. Principal Bryony Bardwell surprised us by bringing out ‘Reading Lead’ teacher Craig Roberts and four of the children to greet us and take part in a photo.
Bryony commented,” We are extremely grateful for the books we receive each year from the Swindon Soroptimists. It is really appreciated and means so much to our children and families! It allows us to provide books to children across the school for use both in school and at home. Children should be exposed to a range of genres and authors and through the books we are donated we can give the children these opportunities. Some of our families have benefited from using these books in a library system to allow them to change the reading materials at home often and keep their children motivated and inspired to read more”.