Ready, Steady, Read!

Sewell Facilities Management is supporting a new charity aimed at improving literacy among primary school children in Hull.

Ready, Steady, Read has been co-founded by Joanne Walker and Paula Stead who share a belief in the power of literacy to improve the aspirations and outcomes for children and young people, as well as inspiring a lifelong love of reading.

The charity recruits and trains volunteer readers, matching them with local schools to provide additional support and one-to-one coaching.

The children are chosen by the school and the charity funds a reward scheme, which includes a progress chart and prizes along the way.

Sewell Facilities Management’s sponsorship means readers are now in place at an additional four schools including Endike Academy, Kingswood Parks Primary School, Victoria Dock Primary School and Highlands Primary School in Hull.

Martin Stead, Managing Director of Sewell Facilities Management, said: “We work in many schools across the region and are all too aware of the current pressures on funding. We are also passionate about supporting the schools in giving every pupil the best possible chance to succeed in life and literacy is a vital part of that.

“As a charity, Ready, Steady, Read can deliver on both those fronts and therefore help ensure all children have the life skill of literacy. Sewell Facilities Management is delighted to be supporting the charity in their work.”

Paula said: “We’re delighted to be working with Sewell Facilities Management and we’re looking forward to being able to place more volunteers in schools as a result of their generous sponsorship. As a charity, the support of corporate partners can make a huge difference to the level and scale of service we can provide, whether that’s by sponsoring the training of a volunteer or funding a reading corner.”

The charity is now recruiting more volunteers to enable them to expand further in the coming months. For more information, visit www.readysteadyread.org