Southgate gives lift to children with book gifts

Shopping complex Southgate Bath has gifted bundles of children’s books and engaging activity booklets to support families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 300 children’s books have been shared with local families, including Gargantis by Thomas Taylor and Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mcbratney, along with free activity booklets filled with fun and educational worksheets based on familiar fictional characters such as Alex Rider, Judy Moody and Maisy Mouse.

Grainne Moher, from The Genesis Trust, said: “’It’s great to be able to offer our families the books and activity books, particularly now with so many children home from school. This has really meant a lot to us and we know just how much of a difference they will make to children in our local area.”

This initiative is led by Southgate Bath’s co-owner, British Land, and the National Literacy Trust. It follows a long-running partnership to help encourage children to enjoy reading outside of the classroom and provide them with the resources to do so.

Recent research from the National Literacy Trust reveals that children who own their own books are happier. Yet, one in 11 children and young people in the UK don’t have a book of their own at home.

With many children not attending school due to Covid-19, this project aims to tackle this problem.

Guy Henderson, centre director at Southgate, added: “Encouraging children to love to read and giving them access to their own books is so important, especially at this particularly difficult time.

“We’re really pleased to be able to continue to work with the National Literacy Trust to support amazing local organisations like The Genesis Trust.”

As part of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, families in Bath also have free access to virtual storytelling sessions which support children’s listening and creative skills and help to spark a love of stories.

The ‘Young Readers Story Club’ videos feature professional storytellers sharing different stories each week, including award-winning children’s poet Dominic Berry and storyteller Amanda Edmiston.