To mark World Book Day on 6 March, local charity St John’s Foundation has donated £4,238 to seven primary schools in Bath and North East Somerset to help expand their library collections.
The schools taking who benefitted from the donation are St Martin’s Garden Primary School, St Michael’s Junior Church School, Twerton Infant School and Nursery, St Keyna Primary School, Roundhill Primary School, Castle Primary School and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School.
As part of St John’s 850th anniversary celebrations last year, all seven schools collaborated to create a unique book titled The Day the Alien Came. Written by 192 children with the guidance of author Stewart Foster and illustrator Andrew Prescot, the book was sold locally to raise funds. Now, in a fitting full-circle moment, the proceeds are being used to provide books for the libraries of the participating schools.
Georgia Clark, teacher from St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and Nursery, said, “Reading is not just a skill, it’s a gateway to knowledge, imagination and personal growth. Thanks to the generous funds raised through this project, we are expanding our library and providing children with more opportunities to develop their reading skills.
“These resources will not only enhance their literacy but also inspire a deeper passion for books and learning. The active involvement of our children in this initiative further demonstrates the powerful impact of our shared commitment to reading and writing.”
Catharine Brown, CEO of St John’s Foundation, added, “We believe that every child deserves access to great books that inspire a love of reading and learning. Working with these schools and their students on The Day the Alien Came was an incredible experience, and we are delighted that the funds raised will directly benefit their libraries. This initiative is just one part of our ongoing commitment to supporting children’s education in Bath and North East Somerset.”
St John’s works with these seven schools as part of its Best Start in Life strategy, which provides additional support in reading, writing, mathematics, and oracy, as well as emotional and behavioural support. Together, these schools serve 40% of the region’s most under-served children, and St John’s remains committed to helping them thrive.
For more information about St John’s Foundation and its work, visit www.stjohnsbath.org.uk.
