FOUR hundred pupils from nine schools across Glasgow had the chance to meet Australia’s award-winning children’s author, Morris Gleitzman, at the Mitchell Library on Friday.
The children were taking part in the Tesco Bank-supported schools programme at the Aye Write! Book Festival.
This year’s programme has seen over 12,000 children across Glasgow taking part in a variety of literary events including author readings, fun workshops and activities.
Morris Gleitzman, author of children’s favourites including Toad Surprise, Two Weeks with the Queen and Worry Warts, said:
“I love literary festivals and Aye Write! is one of the best. When successful companies like Tesco Bank get behind kids and books, it sends the message that reading isn’t just fun – it can help make you a success too.”
Amy Grantham, from St Patrick’s Primary School in Anderston, said:
“Morris told us all about how he writes his stories and where his ideas and characters come from.
“Most of it was really daft and very funny, but some was much more serious like his stories about the Holocaust.
“It was all really interesting to hear what it’s like to be an author.”
Adele Mills, community investment manager at Tesco Bank, commented:
“Tesco Bank aims to make a positive contribution to the Glasgow area – both in the way we do business and by supporting community initiatives.
“Education is central to this and we are delighted that our support of the Aye Write! Schools Programme has enabled children to get involved in reading from a young age.
“Hopefully, this will begin a lifelong love of books.”
The Aye Write! schools programme engaged over 12,000 children from across Glasgow in reading and books through a two week programme of readings, workshops, Q&A’s and activities.
As well as Morris Gleitzman, guests at this year’s festival included a host of award-winning children’s authors such as Julia Donaldson and the current Children’s Laureate, Anthony Browne.
The aim of the Festival is to increase awareness and use of libraries and to promote reading within the family.
Pupils from the following schools attended Friday’s event: St Patrick’s Primary School, St Bernard’s Primary School, Miller Primary School, Blackfriars Primary School, Garrowhill Primary School, St Francis Primary School, Corpus Christie Primary School, Wellshot Primary School and Ibrox Primary School
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Ross McDonald, Merchant Soul, Tel: 0141 280 4480 / 07944 465 979
Monica McCormack, Tesco Bank, Tel: 0131 479 1346
Notes for editors:
Tesco Bank in the Community
- Tesco Bank has committed an investment of £1.5million across the next four years in sport, education and art programmes to the benefit and wellbeing of our communities across Scotland and the North East. Activities in the programme include:
- The Tesco Bank Football Challenge – a partnership with the Scottish FA which will introduce over 72,000 p2 and p3 children to football in a fun and friendly way
- Tesco Bank is proud supporter of The Summer Reading Challenge Scotland, in association with The Reading Agency, which will introduce at least 20,000 young school children to books and reading.
- Support of Yorkhill Children’s Foundation, Children’s North East and Prince’s Trust as Tesco Bank Community Partners
- Support the Tesco Charity of the Year 2011 – Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimers Scotland
Tesco Bank
- Tesco Bank has 6.5 million customer accounts across 28 products and services including Insurance (motor, home, pet, travel, dental, health and life), credit cards and personal loans, personal saving products, Tesco Compare – online insurance and utilities comparison site – and ATMs
- Tesco Bank sells its products and services through multiple channels, including in-store, by telephone and online.
- Tesco Bank was launched in 1997 as a joint venture between Tesco and The Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2008, Tesco acquired the remaining 50 per cent RBS shareholding for £950m and Tesco Bank is now fully owned by Tesco plc.
- In October 2009, Tesco Personal Finance began using the trading name Tesco Bank, in recognition of its longer-term objective of offering Tesco customers new products and services, providing customers with more choice and great value.
Tesco in the Community
- Over the last 19 years, we have donated nearly four million items of equipment worth around £170 million to over 40,000 schools and clubs in the UK.
- FA Tesco Skills has now given over 2.5m coaching sessions to children aged 5-11 in England in schools and in local communities.
- Together Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland are Tesco Charity of the Year 2011 and hope to raise £5 million to fund Dementia Community Roadshows, Dementia Support and research.
Tesco in Scotland
- Tesco is recognised as Scotland’s largest private-sector employer, with over 26,000 staff working in 150 stores.
- We have opened a number of Regeneration Partnership stores in Scotland to revitalise disadvantaged areas, working in partnership with local agencies.
- Two million customers shop at Tesco every week in Scotland.
- We work with 150 Scottish suppliers, who provide our stores with over 1,500 products.
- We sell over £2bn of Scottish products in our stores across the UK each year.
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Contact: Ross McDonald
Phone: 07944465979
Email: r.mcdonald@merchantsoul.com
Website: http://www.merchantsoul.com
