Medical students at the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ have been delivering reading sessions to local primary school pupils as part of a project to boost literacy in the city.
The Right to Read Scheme, run by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Children in Poverty (PCiP) and funded by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Drake Foundation, sees students from across Peninsula Medical School drop in online to read a story to pupils and follow it up with a discussion on the bookÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s message.
Each pupil then receives their own book, funded by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Drake Foundation, wrapped and with a name and sticker inside by non-profit organisation The Story Gifters.
The initiative was trialled earlier this year based on the knowledge that many children across the UK do not own a book, and that early years reading has been even further impacted by the pandemic.
Medical student ambassadors (WAMS) have been taking part in their spare time, with many ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ˜Zooming inÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™ between academic work and placement shifts. Medicine Foundation students out on their placements also supported the project. Their involvement came about thanks to PCiPÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s links with Julie Monk, the UniversityÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s Widening Participation Officer in the Faculty of Health.
