Business encouraged to trade chips for cash to help literacy issues

Business people across the North West are set to relive their youth by feasting on school dinners in a bid to help reduce literacy and writing problems.

Charity organisers at Rock FM and Magic 999’s Cash for Kids are hoping to entice local businesses to raise £100,000 with mushy peas and custard pudding.

The event on Wednesday 8th October is for the official launch of a £350,000 groundbreaking new campaign called Read to Succeed, which is set to benefit pupils with reading difficulties.

The funding will be used to employ 30 additional part-time teaching assistants per year, for three years, in local primary schools across Lancashire, Wigan and Blackpool.

The charity behind the initiative, Cash for Kids, which is the official charity for Bauer radio stations Rock FM and Magic 999, is looking for local businesses to help reach the goal of £100,000 over a two year
period.

Dawn Gibson, Marketing and Communications Director, from Bauer Radio Charities said:

“This is such a worthy project for Cash for Kids to be involved in and we’re delighted that the NWDA has been able to donate such a huge amount towards the initiative.

“We are now targeting to local businesses for their help and support and hopefully, with their donations, we can reach our £100,000 target. If just 25 businesses were to raise £2,000 over the next two years, we’d achieve our goal.

“Whether companies want to encourage staff to have sponsored walks, raffles or cake sales, we’d be so pleased for as many as possible to help out and raise some cash for a worthy cause.”

The project is being officially launched on 8th October and is backed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), which has generously provided £224,000 in funding, which will cover the first two years of the three year project.

Research has proved that for children who are falling behind, just five minutes of additional reading time a day with someone they trust will get them back on track. Poor reading and writing skills costs business in the UK £10 billion a year.

New Teaching Assistants will be spread evenly in schools across Lancashire, Wigan and Blackpool, offering additional and essential one on one reading time with individual 6 and 7 year olds who need support.

Thanks to the start up funding from the NWDA, Read to Succeed will be able to commence on 6th October, with the first set of Teaching Assistants working with those children who need their help the most.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the NWDA said:

“The NWDA is delighted to be involved in the launch of this important project, which will change the lives of hundreds of children throughout the region. The future growth of England’s Northwest depends upon developing the talents of young people to enhance skills base of the future workforce.

“This campaign is an excellent example of how the business community can work together to make a significant difference. I would encourage as many local businesses are possible to support this project.”

A launch event is to be held at Shaw Hill Golf Club on 8th October, when major businesses from across the region will be invited to a free “school dinner” and have a chance to learn more about the project and how they can get involved.

Businesses in the area who are keen to find out more about Read to Succeed, should contact Emma Bailie or Clare Chadwick at Rock FM on 01772 477700 or visit www.rockfm.co.uk/cashforkids.

You are invited to send a reporter / photographer / camera crew to the official launch of Read to Succeed, between 5.30pm and 7pm on Wednesday 8th October at Shaw Hill Golf Club, Whittle-le-Woods, Near Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 7PP, where Ashton Primary School choir will be singing. A representative from Bauer Radio Charities will be available to interview. Please set up in advance with Gillian or Ashley at The BIG Partnership (contact details below).

Issued on behalf of Bauer Radio Charities by The BIG Partnership

For further information please contact:

Gillian Hamilton at The BIG Partnership on 0141 333 9585 / 07734 656 676 gillian.hamilton@bigpartnership.co.uk or Ashley Stevenson on 0141 333 9585 / 07919 577 739 ashley.stevenson@bigpartnership.co.uk

Notes to editors
• The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire operating businesses across 14 countries. Bauer Radio Ltd; part of the Bauer Publishing Group 2008, is home to a growing network of no.1 commercial radio stations in all major markets in the UK.
• The Group takes a strategic approach to corporate, social responsibility and its reputation depends on effective implementation of policies and its responsibility in local, regional, national and international markets.
• Within the radio division, we are looking to bring greater focus and co-ordination to our activities and to make our CSR commitment more effective.
• We currently have 19 radio stations within the ‘big city’ portfolio, covering Scotland, Northern England and Ireland, each of which operates local charity initiatives for sick and underprivileged children; collectively we raised in excess of £4.5 million in 2007/08.
• It is our ambition to increase these donations to £7 million in 08/09 and ultimately to reach £10million by 2010.
• As well as local fundraising conducted by the local stations the above Board will also focus upon a national fundraising campaign.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

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