National Reading Volunteer Award winner Jeanne Jones has praised Isle of Wight primary school pupils whose artwork has been selected for a special reading bag initiative designed to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading.
Jeanne attended the Havenstreet and Ashey Annual Residents’ Meeting where she spoke about the benefits of volunteering in schools and the positive impact reading support can have on children’s confidence, literacy skills and enthusiasm for learning.
The initiative has been funded through support from Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council alongside 5 other town and parish councils across the Isle of Wight.
Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council contributed £1,700 towards the project, helping fund personalised reading bags for pupils at Binstead Primary School and Newchurch Primary School. The bags feature artwork designed by the children themselves and are intended to support reading both at home and in school.
Jeanne Jones has said:
“This project captures the heart of what reading volunteers do — opening doors, building confidence, and helping children discover the joy of stories.
“It’s wonderful to see children’s creativity recognised in such a meaningful and practical way.”
The initiative has also received backing from the National Literacy Trust, which provided reading information and bookmarks to accompany the bags.
The project builds on a wider Isle of Wight literacy campaign first launched earlier this year aimed at improving children’s access to books and encouraging reading from an early age.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the original book bag initiative was created to help tackle concerns around declining reading levels and reduced access to books among some children across the Island.
Organisers hope the personalised bags will help make reading more engaging for young people while also giving children a sense of pride in their own creativity.
