The National Literacy Trust in Peterborough has partnered with Stagecoach East this summer to launch Books on Board – a new initiative to encourage children and families to discover the joy of reading together while travelling by bus.
Across a number of routes, in the city, Stagecoach double-decker buses have been supplied with a basket of books for children under 12. Parents and carers are encouraged to borrow a book for the duration of their journey and share a story with their children. The initiative provides opportunities to spark conversations, develop literacy skills and create memorable reading moments together.
To celebrate the launch of the Books on Board programme, National Literacy Trust in Peterborough staff joined children and staff from the Peterborough Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for a special bus journey from Welland to Peterborough city centre. The children jumped on board to travel into the city and attend a Peterborough Presents event at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, where they brainstormed new creative ideas for their community as part of a new project in Welland.
Becky Marrs, Manager for the National Literacy Trust in Peterborough, said:
“Parents and carers play a vital role in fostering love of reading from the earliest years, directly impacting life outcomes. The benefits can reach far beyond childhood, supporting children’s education, confidence and wellbeing, equipping them with skills needed to succeed in the future.
“By putting books on buses, we want to make it as easy as possible for families to incorporate reading into daily routine. Even these small moments can make a big difference, helping children develop positive feelings towards books and stories from an early age.”
Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, added:
“We know that our loyal customers consider our buses to be an integral part of their local communities, so we are delighted to be playing our part in introducing local young people to the wonderful world of reading.
“Many people consider the time they spend on the bus a bit of ‘me time’ when they can get away from the stresses of the day and get into reading a good book. So, it is wonderful to see so many children setting off on that adventure.”