THE LOVE of reading brought young and old together as part of a primary school’s scheme to bring retirees into its community.
A group of pupils from Years 1-6 of St Matthew’s Bloxam CE Primary School joined their retired one-to-one reading volunteers for a book-buying visit to Hunt’s Bookshop in Rugby town centre.
After browsing through the shop’s range of children’s books together, they bought over 50 books to add to the school library.
It was the school’s first use of a £950 donation to the school’s charity PTA, the Parents and Friends of St Matthew’s Bloxam School, from the McCarthy Stone Foundation in support of the school’s intergenerational projects.
Head Teacher Anita Timson said: “This is a sum of money which will make a big difference to the children and the experiences they will have of working alongside the older generation in acquiring reading skills and gardening knowledge.”
PTA committee member Glyn Spence said it was the perfect opportunity to work together and welcome new residents from McCarthy Stone’s nearby Knox Court retirement development in Bilton Road.
He added: “It was brilliant to witness the pupils and reading volunteers further enhancing their relationships.”
The Foundation donated the money towards the school’s reading and gardening volunteer schemes, which aid the pupils’ holistic development and the wellbeing of the volunteers.
Glyn said: “As the weather improves in the coming months, our school’s gardening volunteers are looking forward to further developing our school allotment, nature areas and wider community involvement with a sunflower growing contest – thanks to the McCarthy Stone Foundation’s generosity and the amazing time, care and dedication offered by our school’s volunteers.”
Contact the school office on [email protected] or tel 01788 542610 to find out more about becoming a volunteer.
