Packs of children’s books will be landing on the doorsteps of homes across the North West just in time for Christmas, thanks to the efforts of ForHousing.
The early Christmas gifts, containing reading resources and activities, will be delivered to more than 2,000 children aged between one to four years-old across Salford, Oldham, Knowsley, and Cheshire West and Chester, by staff at ForHousing.
The scheme is a result of a partnership between the housing association and the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, BookTrust, designed to pilot new ways for families to engage their children in reading and make it a part of daily life.
The charity’s mission is to get more families and children around the UK reading. Each year they reach 3.9m children with books, resources, and support.
Martyn Hague, director of Neighbourhoods at ForHousing, said: “It’s fantastic that through our partnership with Book Trust every child aged one to four years-old living in a ForHousing home will receive a book pack in time for Christmas.
“The packs aim to help develop a love of reading in the early years, and this initiative is just one of the ways we are looking to support the life chances of children and young people.
“We want to create new possibilities for tenants of all ages to thrive and flourish.
“I’d like to add a big thank you to all the members of the ForHousing team who have volunteered to deliver these early Christmas gifts to children.”
The festive scheme follows on from a partnership this summer that saw 1,400 BookTrust books donated to children as part of ForHousing’s Play Streets Initiative, which offers engaging activities during the school holidays.
Diana Gerald, BookTrust chief executive, said: “Reading not only enables children to escape to fantasy worlds, it also supports language development, communication skill, and confidence, and can be hugely reassuring in a world that for many is now very challenging.
“We are hugely grateful to ForHousing for partnering with BookTrust as we pilot innovative and exciting ways to reach, empower, and encourage more families to experience the many benefits of reading with their children from an early age.”
Image: Aleksandra Halina and two year-old daughter Nadia from Eccles with their new book pack
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