News
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visits National Literacy Trust project to celebrate International Literacy Day
8 Sep 2010
Today, in recognition of International Literacy Day, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is visiting an inspirational National Literacy Trust project in Wiltshire where she will read an extract from Hairy Maclary.
Her Royal Highness is taking part in a Rhymetime session in Trowbridge Library with local parents and children and reading to the children an extract from Hairy Maclary, from Donaldson's Dairy, a Puffin Book by Lynley Dodd that she has chosen especially for the event. Local Wiltshire author Eileen Browne is also reading an extract from her book, the classic Handa’s Surprise, to the youngsters. Copies of Handa’s Surprise, published by Walker Books, will be given to the families by Her Royal Highness as a special gift to take home and enjoy together as a family. Her Royal Highness then has the opportunity to meet with the families who are benefitting from the work to improve literacy levels in Wiltshire.
The visit will demonstrate to Her Royal Highness the work that the National Literacy Trust and Wiltshire Council are carrying out to extend the reach of support for literacy to the most needy families locally by involving a wide range of front-line services. In Wiltshire, this innovative work means that housing providers, midwives and health visitors are working together to support the literacy of more families and communities.
Director of the National Literacy Trust, Jonathan Douglas, says:
“We are delighted that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is a passionate believer in the power of literacy to transform lives. It’s fantastic to have Her Royal Highness here in Wiltshire to help celebrate International Literacy Day.
“Family involvement is vital in developing children’s literacy skills, and we must make it clear that learning does not end outside the school gates. Activities like Rhymetime are crucial in encouraging families that reading, writing, speaking and listening, the four key components that make up literacy skills, are a great way to bond with your children, while supporting their learning at the same time.”
Andrew Kerr, the Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council says:
“It is such an enormous honour to have Her Royal Highness with us in Wiltshire this International Literacy Day. Strong literacy skills are vital to the members of our community, and can help them realise their aspirations in many aspects of their lives.
“We want to ensure our children receive the best start in life possible, and we are working incredibly hard to achieve that goal. Our relationship with the National Literacy Trust is imperative in helping us reach this goal and we are proud of the exciting work that is being developed here.”
You can read the full media release here.
