Kids are fully booked over literary festival
JONATHAN GEDDES
More than 200 young bookworms from Cambuslang are to benefit from a trip to a popular festival.
The excited youngsters, from Newton Farm, West Coats, Hallside and Park View primary schools, are all taking part in the annual Wee Write event.
The bash aims to inspire a lifelong love of books by promoting the benefits of reading to children and encouraging families to read together.
UKSE, the Tata Steel subsidiary, donated £2000 to Glasgow Life – organisers of Wee Write! – providing more than 200 tickets for Cambuslang children.
Throughout this year’s festival, pupils will be able to see and hear from a variety of award-winning authors including former Blue Peter presenter Konni Huq, Muhammad Khan and Philip Ardagh.
The festival also plays host to World Book Day’s “Share a Story Live”, a fast-paced, interactive book extravaganza hosted by author and actor Steven Butler, which will feature multiple writers.
The lucky kids will also be given free books to take home.
UKSE also provided funding for pupils in Cambuslang last year.
Councillor David McDonald, chair of Glasgow Life and depute leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Inspiring children to love books and reading is really important, and the Wee Write schools programme does exactly just that.
“By allowing more than 200 pupils from across Cambuslang to attend festival events, the donation from UKSE is extremely welcome.
“Thanks to that support, those children will have the opportunity to engage with books in a new and fun way, which will hopefully inspire a love of reading.”
Scott Webb, regional executive at UK Steel Enterprise, added: “Reading can play such an integral part in the lives of young children, helping spark their imaginations and feed their creativity.
“After seeing the huge benefit our first donation in 2018 made to the lives of young people from Cambuslang, we had no hesitation in helping support this cause again.”