“ Reading is an escape, a distraction and a support. Reality can be put on pause and a whole new environment can be unlocked, an environment that makes you feel safe, calm and positive. When a book resonates with you in any way it can feel like the book is an aid to you personally and truly understands you. As well as this, books can also help with spelling and vocabulary. A book will always be there and even though it is inanimate it will always listen and talk back to you.”
Autumn Walsh
Cultural Learning and Participation Apprentice.
Oxfordshire Kindness Wave is proud to announce on World Book Day, that children we care for who live in a local residential care, will have an account at Blackwell’s Book Shop; alongside support workers, they will be able to choose and purchase their books, and have a mug of hot chocolate.
Over lockdown it has been a chance for many to enjoy a book. Due to shop and libraries temporarily closing, books have been harder to reach. It is with determination and passion that our community of creatives, artists, writers, mentors and educators who have joined together to form Oxfordshire Kindness Wave to create positive opportunities and creative activities for our children and young people throughout this pandemic
Thank you to Siobhan Dowd Trust, Novel Entrainment, Blackwells, Oxfordshire Virtual School and REOC for working together and holding our young people in mind.
My first experience of a book was when I was 16. I was given a bright green book called Junk by Melvin Burgess, a book about teenagers running away was something I could understand and relate to. It made me feel less alone and gave me the language to articulate how I felt.
Over the years I have discovered many books that have given me comfort and escape. My favourite reads are ones I share with my 7 year old daughter Maia. We love nothing more than to cuddle in and go on a reading adventure together.
The heart-breaking thing is that many children and families don’t have access to books. Particularly now during lockdown. Over the years I have worked across many local authorities in different residential care settings and there is only one that I remember having a fully stocked bookcase. This breaks my heart.
Having access to books isn’t just about comfort, it opens up a world of possibilities and imagination. It warms my heart to know that Oxfordshire Kindness Wave are bringing books to children and young people in residential care, they aren’t just delivering books, they’re delivering seeds of inspiration and hope.
Laura Beveridge
Children’s Rights & Inclusion Officer Children’s Hearings Scotland
