Redrow and The Bookery team up to support children’s reading in Okehampton

After teaming up last year with The Bookery, Redrow is donating a further £500 towards its schools outreach work to support and encourage reading.

The Bookery (formerly Crediton Community Bookshop) is a not-for-profit community-owned independent bookshop & creative hub. They have been serving schools in Crediton and across Devon, with author tours and book activities for the last 8 years.

Their school’s outreach programme aims to get books into the hands of children across Devon, many of whom have few books at home. The Bookery and Redrow have since been working together to provide books for children in Okehampton.

Cathie Holden from the schools team said:

“We are passionate about the power of books to change lives and know that there is a direct link between reading for pleasure, academic achievement and emotional wellbeing. We also know that there are many children in Devon who do not own books and many who do not read for pleasure.

As part of our outreach work we take authors into schools. Meeting a ‘real author’ can inspire children, especially if they can go away with their very own copy of the author’s book: teachers tell us this can be just the catalyst for engaging children with reading. The Bookery worked in partnership with Redrow to provide every child in year 5 with a copy of Emma Carroll’s new book, ‘The Little Match Girl Strikes Back’, when she visited Okehampton Primary School on September 22nd. This was an inspiring event for 100 school children!”

Sally Huxen, Co-Principal of Okehampton Primary said:

“We are delighted to receive this support from The Bookery and Redrow. Reading for pleasure is a priority for our school and progress in reading has significant impact on a child’s ability to learn across the curriculum. We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation which we know will have a real impact on outcomes for our children.”

Area Sales Manager Kevin Bradford, says, “Children’s education was heavily impacted during the pandemic. As we recover from the closure of schools and the knock on impact of home learning challenges, it is particularly important that we focus on children who sit at the heart of Okehampton’s thriving community.

“At Redrow we are passionate about supporting the wellbeing of those local communities and their future. Children’s education is absolutely paramount to this. We hope the children enjoy getting lost in books, and this love to reading helps them thrive.”

This is not Redrow’s first time supporting local initiatives and events in Okehampton. They have recently provided a donation to cover food, drinks and personalised bears at a Jubilee party organised by residents on the Romansfield development, as well as sponsoring the local Guide Dogs of Okehampton.

The Romansfield development is just 40 minutes from Exeter with great travel routes to Plymouth. Find further information on the Romansfield development here Romansfield | 5* New Build homes in Okehampton | Redrow