22 September 2008
Major investment set to help kids across the Northwest
A campaign has been unveiled to raise over £350,000 to help more
children in the North West to read and write. The aim is to
raise the cash over a three year period funding 30 extra part time
teaching assistants per year for three years in local primary
schools.
The project has been launched by Cash for Kids, the official
charity of Rock FM and Magic 999 and is backed by the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
The Read to Succeed campaign will help schools right across
Lancashire, Wigan and Blackpool, including St Kentigerns CP School
on Newton Drive in Blackpool, Ashton School on Ainsdale Drive in
Preston and Bedford Hall Methodist School in Leigh, Wigan.
It is estimated that throughout the UK, 1 in 6 children has
difficulty in learning to read with the situation not helped by
under-resourced schools and parents with no time to help.
The charity hopes to raise the cash by inspiring businesses to
mobilise their employees to join in fund raising. And the
great news is that the NWDA has come forward with a cheque for
£224,000 to launch the campaign, and fund the first two years of
the 3 year project.
New Teaching Assistants will work in schools, offering extra one
on one reading time with individual 6 and 7 year olds who need
support. Thanks to the start up funding from the NWDA, the
first Teaching Assistants will start working for Read to Succeed on
6th October. They are spread evenly across the region, with
10 schools in each of Lancashire, Wigan and Blackpool.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA) said:
“The NWDA is delighted to be involved in the launch of this
important project, which will change the lives of hundreds of
children throughout the region. The future growth of England’s
Northwest depends upon developing the talents of young people to
enhance skills base of the future workforce. Successful companies
need outstanding people - Read to Succeed will ensure the region
continues to encourage lifelong learning from an early age,
boosting skills and education for all.”
A launch event is to be held at Shaw Hill Golf Club on 8th
October, when major businesses from across the region will be
invited to a free “school dinner” and have a chance to learn more
about the project and how they can get involved.
Charity Manager Emma Bailie said “We need to raise another
£100,000 over the next two years to complete this three year
project. We are hoping that 25 businesses will each aim to
raise £2,000 per year for the next two years. We will help
them raise the money and Rock FM and Magic 999 will be getting
involved.
Research has proved that for those children who are falling
behind, just five minutes a day additional reading time, one on
one, with someone they trust will get them back on
track. This is so important when you realise that 50%
of the prison population cannot read, and if you cannot read, you
are more likely to get involved in crime. Poor reading and
writing skills costs business in the UK £10 billion a year.
If you would like to get involved in helping raise money for
Read to Succeed, you can contact Emma Bailie at Cash for Kids on
01772 477834 or visit the website at www.rockfm.co.uk
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