A children’s book drive run by charity The Children’s Book Project in partnership with Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust collected over 5000 books for local children. Watford FC midfielder Juraj Kucka was on hand to support the drop off at one of the lucky schools receiving the books, Warren Dell Primary School.
Slovakian international Kucka joined several children in the library as they shared their chosen books with him. There was plenty of time for autographs and photos with the pupils in what was a positive event to culminate the events between the Trust and The Children’s Book Project.
Kayleigh Clarke, Deputy Headteacher at Warren Dell Primary School said:
“They are our nearest football club so lots of our families, lots of our children support Watford. So, this a great opportunity for us and our children to excite them even more about reading.”
There were several book drive events coinciding with World Book Day in March, including one at Vicarage Road Stadium prior to the Premier League fixture, Watford versus Arsenal. A week before and after that drive, Meriden Community Centre, the Trust’s hub in North Watford, hosted another. Whilst several local schools also got on board the campaign to collect as many children’s books as possible.
After these events The Children’s Book Project diligently went through every book received and cleaned and sorted them by reading age and interest. These books have now been given to teachers at targeted nurseries and primary schools for them to redistribute within their community. These schools are selected based on the discretionary needs of their children.
Kirstin Knell from the Children’s Book Project noted
“We are so excited by the massive success at Watford FC as it is our first partnership with a football club. It makes sense that a club which is so central to the community can be at the heart of this book rehoming – local children donating the books they’ve outgrown so that other local children can have the joy of choosing books for themselves.”
The Children’s Book Project is a registered charity working with settings across the UK to redistribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families. Statistics such as the fact that there is a ten-month difference in the language development of 11-year-old children from a ‘book-rich’ home compared with those from a ‘book poor’ home, illustrate exactly why this charities work is so important.
The school is grateful for the support, but no longer requires direct donations of books. Please go to The Children’s Book Project website for book donations.
To find out more about The Children’s Book Project please visit www.childrensbookproject.co.uk/
