Whether it’s reading a book or a newspaper, checking the sports results, following a recipe, or using Social Media, reading is an essential skill. It\’s also something that most of us enjoy doing.
However, your reading ability can also be a key determinate of your future. Various studies have found poor literacy linked to unemployment, low income, poor health behaviours, and lower life expectancy.
According to the National Literacy Trust there are around seven million adults unable to read, write and communicate successfully. The cost to the UK of this poor literacy is estimated at around £2.5 billion a year.
Good literacy starts in childhood. Of course, the opposite is also true, i.e. poor literacy also begins in childhood.
Reading to, and with, our children is something that most of us have enjoyed. However, research from the National Literacy Trust found that one in eleven children from disadvantaged backgrounds do not even own a book or aren’t read to.
This is worrying as children who own books are six times more likely to read above their age level. They are also more than twice as likely to agree that reading is cool. This greater literacy can lead to higher earnings, a longer life expectancy, and better mental health.
To help tackle this literacy crisis, the Rotary Club of Leicester is launching Rotary’s Books4Homes project in Leicester to help children in our local area.
Why can Rotary make this difference?
Rotary has extensive supporter and volunteer connections and is a proven campaign organiser.
Making a difference is what Rotary does all over the world.
How does Rotary Books4Home Leicester work?
The Rotary Books4Home Leicester project will help encourage local children to read by:
• Donating books (via a local school) to pupils so that they will have their own books, and having
• Rotarians visit schools to listen to pupils reading.
How you can support Books4Home
We are looking for donations of new or good-quality children’s books, or you can make a cash donation below to enable us to purchase books.
Please contact us for more information or to donate books.
