Week-long Family Learning Literacy Project

A literacy project which encourages families in Thamesmead to interact through week-long fun activities will take place this summer.

Aimed at families with children aged 2 - 5 years old, volunteers will empower parents to support their child's literacy skills through activities such as reading, singing, nursery rhymes, drawing and crafts.

The Early Words Together literacy project, led by Trust Thamesmead in partnership with National Literacy Trust and Save the Children, is part of the Peabody Group's drive to improve literacy during a child's first years of development which can have a significant impact on increasing cognitive abilities and language skills later in life.

Veronica Kirwan, Director of Community Programmes at Peabody said: “The Early Words Together literacy programme empowers parents to support their child's early literacy development. It also supports families and helps build volunteer capacity and skills in the local community.”

Families have a choice of attending morning or afternoon sessions, 10:00 - 11:30am or 1:30 - 3:00pm on the following dates at the following venues;

• 10 - 14 August, Manor Close Community Centre, Manor Close, SE28 8EY

• 17 - 21 August, The Link Thamesmead, Belvedere Road off Harrow Manor Way, SE2 9BS

• 17 - 21 August, Arnott Community Centre, 3 Arnott Close off Titmuss Avenue, SE28 8BG

Each child who attends the week-long sessions, be it morning or afternoon, will receive three free books.

Around one in four London children leave primary school with a lower than average reading ability, which can have a major impact on their long term life changes.

Families wishing to participate in the project should contact Trust Thamesmead's Senior Community Development Officer, Lisa-Ann Newton, E: [email protected]