Local housebuilder lays the foundation for young readers this World Book Day
Reading is a fundamental skill that unlocks opportunities for children — yet, recent research has highlighted concerns about declining literacy levels in Wales.* With book reading also on the decline,** fostering a love of stories from an early age has never been more important.
So, this World Book Day (06 March) Barratt David Wilson Homes South Wales is championing literacy through its miniature community library scheme — with the most recent instalment popping up at Penllergaer Primary School, near its Pentref Llewelyn development in Swansea.
With three miniature libraries scattered across developments in South Wales, and more planned for the future, the initiative enables young people in the community to swap an existing book with a new one of their choice — supporting a circular economy that ensures no book goes to waste.
Since receiving the library filled with donated books, Penllergaer Primary School has started developing a dedicated outdoor space for reading — so pupils can enjoy a consistent environment to immerse themselves in stories and help achieve their learning outcomes.
Sarah Burns, headteacher at Penllergaer Primary School, said: “Reading is not only an important life skill, but it also opens the door to so many opportunities — enabling children to investigate other experiences, worlds and perspectives.
“As we continue to support future generations in here in Penllergaer, it has been wonderful to see the students interact with the library that Barratt David Wilson Homes South Wales kindly donated — and we hope this continues to inspire our pupils on their education journey.”
The communal libraries are just one chapter in the story of Barratt’s commitment to encouraging children’s literacy. The housebuilder has worked with UK reading charity, Bookmark, since 2022 — donating over £400,000 to aid the charity’s mission of giving children the reading skills and confidence they need for a fair chance in life.
Lewis Allwood, Charity Champion for Barratt David Wilson Homes South Wales, said: “We are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we’re building in — particularly for young people who are the future of these communities.
“Not only do these libraries enable us to support children in learning literary skills, but they also allow the communities to donate their used books — passing on their favourite stories for others to read whilst encouraging a more circular economy.”
To find out more about new homes in Penllergaer, visit: www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev001007-pentref-llewelyn