The National Literacy Trust worked with Peterborough United to kick off World Book Day® celebrations in the city, with 80 children invited to meet award-winning author A.M. Dassu at the Weston Homes Stadium on Monday 27 February.
As well as going on a private stadium tour at the home of the Posh, Year 6 pupils from The Beeches Primary School met World Book Day author A.M. Dassu, author of football-themed Boot It, and were able to choose a free World Book Day® book to take home.
By working with Peterborough United, the National Literacy Trust and World Book Day® help to break down the financial and social barriers many families face when trying to access books and engage with reading.
"We know that football can be a fantastic way to get children excited about reading. Bringing books and authors into places that families and children already love, like this football club, makes reading more fun and interesting and, importantly, accessible. It’s great to be working with the Posh Foundation and World Book Day® to make this happen.”
Conor Monk, Programme Manager for Peterborough Reads
The National Literacy Trust knows that families who are struggling financially may not be able to access bookshops to spend their World Book Day token, so the charity brings World Book Day® directly to children, taking the £1 books out of bookshops and into accessible community spaces like Weston Homes Stadium.
At the club, families and children can access books and literacy resources and find a love of reading through their love of football, which in turn supports their literacy.
The National Literacy Trust’s local campaign Peterborough Reads often works with The Posh Foundation to use the excitement and passion surrounding sport to motivate and inspire young people in their reading and writing.
“It’s fantastic to be able to bring some local children to the stadium for a tour and to meet and ask questions to an author – we hope they enjoy the experience! We’re proud to be part of the Premier League Primary Stars schools’ network, distributing copies of the World Book Day titles to those most in need of literacy support in Peterborough.”
Gavin Slater, School Sports Manager for The Posh Foundation
Peterborough United is one of 97 Football Club Community Organisations (CCO) that has distributed 180 copies of the World Book Day 2023 titles to their Premier League Primary Stars schools’ network to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds that may not have a single book of their own at home.
With their World Book Day book tokens, children in Peterborough can choose from 12 titles, including A.M. Dassu’s Boot It. Getting to choose a book of their own is a key element in developing reading for pleasure.
