CHILDREN across Scotland are being encouraged to sign up for a ScottishPower reading challenge to raise money for environmental projects.
The ScottishPower Story Swap was successfully piloted last year with hundreds of pupils across the country taking part in the event.
The joint venture with the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Friends of the Earth Scotland was a fun end of term challenge which encouraged youngsters to recycle their books.
Speaking at this year’s launch, ScottishPower group sponsorships manager, Heather McDonald, said:
“The ScottishPower Story Swap Shop is a fun way for youngsters to swap their old books with their classmates and raise money for environmental projects at the same time.
“We were really encouraged by the response we got last year, from teachers as well as from pupils, and we are delighted to be running it again this year in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Friends of the Earth Scotland.
“We are delighted to be enabling schoolchildren to help the charity financially and are proud of our commitment to literacy and our sponsorship of the book festival. This is an ideal way to combine both and help children do their bit to save energy by switching off televisions and computers and picking up a book.”
All schools have to do to take part in the competition is to hold a book swap before the end of summer term with pupils donating 50p for every book they want to swap.
The money raised will go to Friends of the Earth Scotland, which works to promote energy saving and waste reduction.
Lois Wolffe, sponsorship and development manager, of the Book Festival said:
“The ScottishPower Story Swap Shop brings together two of our great passions – looking after the environment, and helping children to enjoy reading. Over 20,000 children and young people come to the Book Festival in Edinburgh each August, but we’re delighted that through ScottishPower’s support we can bring the magic of meeting your favourite author to a school.”
Last year’s winners, the Community School of Auchterarder, won an exclusive visit from popular author, Andy Stanton.
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:
“Encouraging children to swap their unwanted books is a win-win for energy saving, waste reduction and literacy. Add the chance for schools to win an author visit, and its something every primary school in Scotland should want to take part in. Friends of the Earth Scotland is delighted to be partnering with the International Book Festival and ScottishPower to promote the Story Swap Shop again in 2010
Every school which enters the ScottishPower Story Swap Shop will stand a chance of winning a visit from an author who will be part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
To register to take part in the book swap shop please contact Eva Swanson at The BIG Partnership on 0141 333 95985 / 07876021367 eva.swanson@bigpartnership.co.uk. Schools should register their interest before May 14th.
For background on ScottishPower log onto www.scottishpower.com and more details about Friends of the Earth Scotland can be found at www.foe-scotland.org.uk. Information on the Edinburgh International Book Festival can be found at www.edbookfest.co.uk.
ENDS
Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of ScottishPower.
For more information please contact:
Eva Swanson on 0141 333 9585 / 07876021367 eva.swanson@bigpartnershipco.uk
OR
Kate McCheyne on 0141 33 9585 / 07766 076 469 kate.mccheyne@bigpartnership.co.uk
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Contact: Eva Swanson
Phone: 0141 333 9585
Email: eva.swanson@bigpartnership.co.uk
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