Peterborough City Hospital builds book collection thanks to donation

To mark National Storytelling Week (30th Jan to 6th Feb), Cambridgeshire housebuilder Barratt and David Homes has donated the large collection the Amazon Ward at the hospital.

Spanning a huge range of children’s fiction authors and exploring a number of themes and topics, the selection of titles donated is intended to promote diversity and raise awareness of bullying from an early age.

National Storytelling Week aims to engage both children and adults in the customary pastime of storytelling.

The hospital, which is close to the housebuilder’s head office in Peterborough, was delighted to receive the donation of books for all ages of patients from babies to 16 year olds.

Nicola Wright, Senior Play Specialist at Peterborough City Hospital said: “The team on Amazon Ward, which is Peterborough City Hospital’s Children ward, were delighted to receive a beautiful selection of books to help celebrate National Storytelling Week.

“Reading is so important for many reasons but for the children and parents on the ward it can help to bring a sense of normality and is the perfect opportunity to relax and let your imagination work it's magic.”

Included within the donation were titles from best-selling authors including Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and Julia Donaldson.

Will Phair, Head of Sales at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire, said: “During these unprecedented times, we still wanted children at Peterborough City Hospital to be able to enjoy such awareness campaigns as National Storytelling Week.

“We hope that by donating books by a number of well-respected children’s authors, the patients and their parents will be able to enjoy storytelling sessions together.

“Campaigns such as these give us the opportunity to support the communities in which we build and this week in particular is great for encouraging skills such as reading, writing, listening and creativity.”

As well as its head office being nearby at Cygnet Park, Barratt Homes is currently building a range of properties at its nearby development Hampton Water in Peterborough.

To find out more about National Storytelling Week, visit www.sfs.org.uk/national-storytelling-week.

For more information on Barratt or David Wilson Homes visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.