Peterborough United Foundation donate 400 free books to local primary schools to celebrate World Book Day

Young readers from 24 schools in the city will benefit from the donation, which is part of a new partnership between the Premier League and the National Literacy Trust. In total, 25,000 free books will be given away to children who need them most across the country.

Pupils taking part in the Premier League Primary Stars education programme, delivered by professional football club community organisations across England and Wales, will also each receive a free copy of Football School: 20 Fantastic Football Stories.

The book, by authors Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton, is also a £1 World Book Day title.

National Literacy Trust research has found that children who have their own books are nearly three times more likely to enjoy reading. The partnership will help support children whose access to physical books has been made difficult due to school and public library closures during the national lockdown.

Gavin Slater, Community Manager from Peterborough United Foundation said: “We were delighted to distribute the 400 books on behalf of the National Literacy Trust and the Premier League to local schoolchildren.

“We work with both partners year-round to address the reading levels across the city. Amongst the donation were some exciting titles and I am sure that the children will have great pleasure reading them all.”

To further support pupils on World Book Day, the National Literacy Trust will host a fun-filled Premier League Primary Stars Facebook Live event, featuring the authors of the Football School title being distributed, Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton. The one-hour event will include a quiz featuring a special round of questions set by players from the Premier League, the EFL and the Women’s Super League.

Jim Sells, Sport and Literacy Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust said: “World Book Day promotes reading for pleasure to improve all children’s life chances, and we are so pleased to support the charity behind the initiative. We know that children who have books at home do better in school, so we are delighted to be able to distribute such an incredible number of books to schools across the country with the help of the community organisations.

“I’d also like to thank our partners at Walker Books and the Morrisons Foundation for making this possible.”

“I’m also very excited for the Facebook Live event with Kenzie Benali, Ben Lyttleton and Alex Bellos, three brilliantly energetic personalities who inspire children to get into reading through their love of football.”