Premier footballer and campaigner, Marcus Rashford, has joined forces with the National Literacy Trust, WHSmith and Macmillan Children’s Books to partner on a new initiative aimed at ensuring every child has access to their own book at home.
High street newsagent WHSmith will provide donation points in its stores for customers to donate to the scheme, with funds going to the National Literacy Trust reading charity.
WHSmith has pledged to gift a copy of Rashford’s book You Are A Champion: How To Be The Best You Can Be for each copy that it sells.
The National Literacy Trust will share the books within the community to “tackle literacy issues in communities at a local level across the UK”, according to a statement from WH Smith.
The Manchester United superstar said: “Enjoying reading can’t just be a privilege; all children should be able to access books, no matter what their background.
“Having good literacy skills supports children to succeed in life and everyone should have the opportunity to discover a love of reading.
“This last year has shown us just what we can achieve when we work together.
“By joining forces with WHSmith and the National Literacy Trust we are giving everyone the best opportunity to get involved in supporting getting every child reading.
“There’s a WHSmith on nearly every high street in the UK, they’re online and also in major travel hubs so we’re making this really accessible and would encourage everyone who is able to, to get involved.
“Everyone can play a role, big or small.”
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust added: “Marcus Rashford is an extraordinary campaigner of the societal imbalances that can have a lifelong impact on disadvantaged children.”
We hope this brilliant WHSmith initiative, in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books and the National Literacy Trust, will make essential steps in addressing one of the key barriers to literacy and learning.”
WHSmith have a long legacy of championing children’s literacy, having partnered with the National Literacy Trust for over 15 years. The retailer has already gifted over 76,000 books across the UK through school and instore events which have supported children with their reading and writing.
