Hastings United launches scheme to promote reading

The move is part of the Read Your Way campaign, which is committed to providing 10,000 free books to children and young people in Hastings and St Leonards, by the end of July. The project is funded by Hastings Opportunity Area.

Read Your Way ambassadors helped to paint the book shelf in the team’s claret and blue colours, and got to meet the players at the launch event last Wednesday (January 29).

Chris Agutter, Hastings United manager, said: “Literacy is such a vitally important skill and we are delighted if, as a football club, we can help inspire young fans to develop a love of reading that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

The shelf, at the Pilot Field stadium, is one of five book corners in the town where children and families can take free books. The other locations are Robsack Children’s Centre, Hastings Museum, Ore Community Centre and Education Future’s Trust at The Firs, with more venues set to be confirmed soon.

“The programme is also asking the community to donate children’s books at drop off points around the town. Since September the project has received more than 6,000 book donations.

Carole Dixon, chief executive of the Education Futures Trust, said: “We are getting brilliant support from the community. We have already recruited an army of volunteers and a number of businesses in the town are also helping.

“Last week, Asda collected more than 900 children’s books for us and we’re hoping to announce many more drop-off points and book shelves very soon.”

Anyone wanting to donate books, collect books or to find out about how to volunteer to help improve children’s literacy, should visit www.educationfuturestrust.org/get-hastings-reading or www.facebook.com/ReadYourWayHastings.

In other news:

New homes replace disused care home in St Leonards.

Hastings osteopath helps out Canadian Olympic team.

Hastings Country Park is home to one of the rarest plants in UK.