28.10.09

Pupils from Hanover Primary School took part in a tree planting ceremony earlier this week, as part of the Friends of the Reading Bus education engagement programme.

The programme was made possible after the Reading Bus was made one of 13 beneficiaries of the Union Square community bursary scheme. The club received £2,000.

Hanover Primary School is one of nine schools the Reading Bus will be visiting over the coming months to bring a programme of poetry and story-telling classes, inspired by trees, with well known story teller and poet, Grace Banks.

Prior to the engagement programme starting, the Reading Bus had been touring the City and Shire over the summer to introduce poetry to communities.

Jenny Watson, co-ordinator of Friends of the Reading Bus said: "It was fantastic to receive funding from Union Square.

"It has allowed us to visit lots of communities throughout the summer and introduce story-telling and poetry for the first time to many children.

"It's fantastic being able to work with groups of children from nine different communities, providing them with a professional storyteller and different poets over several sessions.

"All of the children's poems will be inspired by trees, in their school, playground or local environment, so the tree-planting ceremony is a perfect touch in tying the whole project up for them."

Friends of the Reading Bus was one of 13 beneficiaries to receive part of the Union Square community bursary which was set up to help a range of local charities and community groups in Aberdeen City and Shire.

About Friends of the Reading Bus:

- promote reading as a source of lifelong pleasure

- raise attainment and achievement of children at risk of early failure

- encourage family learning in a non-school environment

- involve and empower fragile parents in their pupils' learning.