A ROAD trip promoting a campaign to deliver books to children in schools in diverse inner-city communities across the UK stopped in Bradford today.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the National Literacy Trust have teamed up to give away almost 23,000 copies of Serena Patel’s award-winning book, ‘Anisha, Accidental Detective’, to 240 primary schools in nine cities around the UK.

This morning, a team from Enterprise stopped in Bradford at Whetley Academy Primary, as part of a five-day tour of the UK to deliver the books in a van specially decorated by the book’s illustrator Emma McCann.

The National Literacy Trust worked with Enterprise to identify communities across the UK that will benefit from an injection of books and the charity is confident the donation will help to increase reading for pleasure among these children.

The aim of the initiative is to provide schools in diverse inner-city communities with a stock of books they can gift children to take home and keep as this reinforces classroom learning.

The initiative was made possible with a £128,000 donation from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation.

Darranda Rowswell, Director of Development at the National Literacy Trust, said, “Around one in 11 children from lower income families don’t have a book of their own at home. Reading is not just great fun, but it’s a vital skill and we want all children to love reading.

“This book donation is one more important step in our literacy recovery programme to address the educational issues caused by the pandemic and will help the children who need it most.”

Author Serena Patel, who is delighted her book is playing an important part in the programme. said: “I was thrilled when I heard Enterprise and the National Literacy Trust were coming together for this initiative to gift books to children in primary schools. The lockdowns have been tough for everyone, so being part of a positive, inspiring project is a massive privilege.”

Enterprise visited other primary schools in Bradford to deliver books as part of the road trip.

The other schools receiving books include Girlington Primary, St Philips Primary, Merlin Top Primary, Holycroft Primary, Dixons Allerton, Academy St James, St Mathews Primary, Lowerfields, , Bowling Park Primary, Horton Park Academy, St Williams Primary, Newby Primary, Bankfoot Primary School, Horton Grange Primary, Green Lane Primary, Whetley Academy Primary, Killinghall Primary, Bradford Girls Grammer, The Academy at St James and Belle Vue Girl's Academy.