Tate amp; Lyle’s support for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) forms a part of their Impact Endorsement Award winning Educational Involvement Programme. Reading Is Fundamental is a non-profit organisation run by the National Literacy Trust and is currently building on its successful three year partnership with Tate amp; Lyle in Newham, East London.
The work in Newham, which is supported by Newham Local Education Authority, targets all 3,400 eleven and twelve year olds throughout the borough and aims to increase levels of literacy through encouraging reading. This is achieved through the provision of free books for children to choose and keep; through helping parents to become involved in their children’s reading; through using positive role models (including local ports stars, writers, story tellers and poets); and through assisting teachers and other professionals to encourage reading for pleasure.
Reading Is Fundamental has had a significant impact on the borough. To help achieve this impact 30 Tate amp; Lyle employees have become reading volunteers in Newham. Nationally, over 500 volunteers support Reading Is Fundamental projects, which now total over 400 across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Since RIF was launched in the UK in 1996 over 40,000 children have benefited from participation in the project and more than 120,000 brand new books have been chosen by them at exciting family events.
For further information, contact Sally Champion, Director, Reading Is Fundamental on 020 7828 2435
