TEN Burton Albion first team squad members have visited local primary schools across November and December, as part of a Premier League reading initiative.
Ben Fox and Jack Livesey visited Horninglow Primary School, Harry Campbell and Marvin Sordell visited Ryecroft Middle School in Uttoxeter, Stephen Quinn and Callum Hawkins visited Riverview Primary School, Liam Boyce and Reece Hutchinson went to William Shrewsbury Primary School and Joe Sbarra and Scott Fraser visited Kingfisher Primary School, all as part of inspiring children to learn, be active and develop their life skills.
The Premier League Reading Stars project is available to every primary school in England and Wales, aiming to inspire girls and boys aged 5-11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field.
The programme provides free lesson plans, activities and video content, which Burton Albion Community Trust (BACT) have been delivering in the local community for over a year now.
These are designed to inspire learning in Maths, English, PE and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE). The National Literacy Trust have created all of the English resources for the programme, with some lessons also involving a physical activity allowance for more active learning.
Reece Hutchinson, Burton Albion first team player and school sport ambassador, said: "It’s a great initiative to help to encourage children to read and to try and make it more appealing to them.
"I'm delighted to be the school sport ambassador for the club and it’s great to support the work that the Burton Albion Community Trust coaches are doing.
"It’s amazing for me to be able to join these types of appearances, especially as it wasn’t actually that long ago since I was in school myself. So, to be able to see the smiles on everyone’s faces who took part was a real pleasure!"
Liam Hill, BACT’s Premier League Reading Stars Coordinator, said: "The programme has been a huge success this year. We have already delivered the programme in seven schools since September and we are expanding the programme to other schools in the Burton-upon-Trent area in the new year.
"With the fantastic staff we have who deliver the programme, it has helped us to inspire over 100 children to engage in reading through the power of not just football but Burton Albion as a whole.
"A big thank you must go to Burton Albion Football Club who continue to support us through the help of the first team player appearances. We hope that the programme can continue to support children's engagement in reading, as we believe that it can really help to develop youngster’s language and listening skills."
To find out more about Premier League Reading Stars and the work that Burton Albion Community Trust does in local primary schools, click here - http://burtonalbioncommunitytrust.co.uk/schools-and-sport/