Ahead of National Volunteers’ Week, long-standing collaborators The Royal Warrant Holders Association Charity Fund and Smythson — the proud holder of two Royal Warrants — make a combined large donation to The National Literacy Trust, to train ten Literacy Champion volunteers in the Swindon borough.
The three organisations have teamed up with a mutual mission to support literacy skills for children and families in Swindon.
Utilising its expertise, The National Literacy Trust will train 10 Literacy Champions who are key members of the community: from midwives to faith leaders, football club coaches to childminders. Drawing from their experience and knowledge of the community’s needs, the Literacy Champions will encourage engagement with reading, writing, and communication.
The project highlights Smythson’s ties to Swindon as the location for its primary stationery workshop where many of its skilled artisans reside and have built a livelihood for decades.
In 2022, nearly a quarter of 11-year-olds in Swindon left primary school without reaching the expected levels of reading or writing (22% and 23% respectively). Low literacy skills can go beyond just impacting a child’s success at school; it can impact their relationships as they struggle to communicate, affect their mental well-being, their future opportunities and career, and even their life expectancy. Support from the National Literacy Trust at key moments throughout a child’s life can empower them with the literacy skills they need to succeed.
Literacy Champions in Swindon will engage children and families in a fun and accessible way to encourage a love of reading and writing through everyday activities. This can include setting up free book corners and bookshelves in community spaces that families already frequent, hosting reading and writing clubs, distributing literacy resources and activities, and hosting pop-up book gifting experiences.
Closely aligned on how they view the sentiment and power of the written word, the ongoing relationship between Smythson and The National Literacy Trust is a strong alliance. Combined with the efforts of The Royal Warrant Holders Association Charity Fund, the literacy-driven project will aim to impact many lives throughout Swindon.
