Getting to Grips with the Wonders of Reading

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12 September 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Under-fives in Tower Hamlets have been encouraged to become bookworms at the launch of Peabody and Vinci Facilities' new weekly book corner, Reading from the Start

Around one in four London children leave primary school unable to read, which can have a major impact on their long term life chances. Research has shown that reading with a child during the first years of their development, can have a significant impact on increasing cognitive abilities and language skills later in life.

The launch of Reading from the Start took place at Gore Road Community Centre and is the second reading corner to open as part of Peabody and Vinci Facilities’ project that aims to foster a love of reading in children. The first book corner was piloted on the Pembury Estate in Hackney and attracted 12 families to the first six-week offering and which will now be offered several times throughout the year between now and 2015.

Each reading corner offers ‘fun family activities’, including storytelling sessions and nursery rhyme sing alongs to bring books to life, as well as arts, crafts and games to not only encourage reading but parent and children interaction too. The project will also be supported by volunteers who will read one to one with the children in a group, and help parents with ideas and reading activities that can be used at home.

“Improving children’s literacy levels are central to driving up skills for the future, so we need to instil a love of reading from the start,” explained Veronica Kirwan, Director of Community Programmes at Peabody. “Peabody provides affordable housing for over 80,000 people across London, and our social and economic development programme leads the sector. Vinci is clearly showing a commitment to social responsibility.” 

Pictured: The launch of Reading from the Start is the second reading corner to open as part of a Peabody and Vinci FM project that aims to foster a love of reading in children

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 12 September 2014

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