Barclaycard's Book Bundle Donation Makes Profound Impact With 3 Local Northampton Schools
In a commendable demonstration of corporate social responsibility, Barclaycard recently collaborated with Happier Every Chapter to donate bundles of 100 inclusive books to three local schools in Northampton: Parklands Primary School, Chiltern Avenue Primary School and Northampton International Academy. This initiative aimed to enhance literacy, representation and foster a love for reading among children.
Challenges & Opportunities
In conducting a needs assessment on behalf of the donor and making reference to each's school's Ofsted reports, it was found that the main challenges were around fluency of reading, support for diverse learners (pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language), lack of resources to support/enrich curriculum delivery in foundational subjects and lack of enrichment of early years environment to aid in developing language, ideas, and vocabulary, foundational to literacy skills.
Happier Every Chapter was perfectly placed to not only help Barclaycard fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility goals but to help these schools bridge the literacy attainment gap with carefully curated inclusive and representative books for Early Years to Key Stage 2.
Solutions and Benefits
The donation was followed visits the first of which was to Parklands Primary School and it was particularly memorable. Representatives from Barclaycard, including Karen Dickens, along with Chris Potter and Katie Bluck from ISS, visited the school to chat with the student Reading Ambassadors, Staff and witness the impact of the books received . The excitement was palpable as children eagerly shared about the new reading materials, which were carefully selected to cater to various age groups, reading levels and topics
Here's what Georgie Robinson, Assistant Head of Parklands Primary School had to say;
At Chiltern Avenue , the book donation was integrated into the school's broader efforts to promote literacy and academic achievement. The school, known for its commitment to raising standards and transforming lives, has a history of encouraging reading among its students. The infusion of new books into the school's library and classrooms provided a valuable resource to support the curriculum and inspire students to explore new literary genres.
This initiative is part of Barclaycard's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and education. By partnering with us, Barclaycard aims to make a tangible impact on children's lives, recognizing that access to books is a critical factor in educational development knowing that such contributions are especially significant in areas where resources may be limited, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to develop strong reading skills.
The impact of the book bundle donation extends beyond the immediate excitement of receiving new books. This is helping to create an environment where reading is both accessible and enjoyable, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. Furthermore, this initiative highlights the importance of corporate partnerships in addressing educational needs within the community. This initiative truly exemplifies how corporate social responsibility can be effectively leveraged to support education and community development.