We are saying a huge thank you to the 400+ Amazon employees across the UK who came together in to assemble back-to-school packs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The packs were distributed by Amazon in partnership with the National Literacy Trust to ensure children received these for the back-to-school season.
Studies from the National Literacy Trust have shown that educational disruption in relation to the pandemic had a particularly detrimental effect on children from lower-income homes. Research also showed that children who have a book of their own are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age, compared to their peers that do not own a book. Unfortunately, 1 in 11 disadvantaged children in the UK say that they do not have a book of their own.
Every child should have the opportunity to start the new school year with everything they need to develop their literacy skills.
It was in response to this that Amazonians across several sites in the UK packed thousands of education kits which included a fiction story book, a colouring or puzzle book, a worksheet designed by the National Literacy Trust, a book of word searches and a pack of colouring pencils with a notebook.
“Every child should have the opportunity to start the new school year with everything they need to develop their literacy skills,” said Rosemary Thomas, Director of Operations from the National Literacy Trust. “High literacy levels are invaluable throughout life and can help them succeed not just as school, but into their adult lives. New books and stationery from Amazon will give each of these 9,500 children a brilliant boost at the start of their school year.”
Each of the packs went to a child from the age of 5-7 years old who was starting or returning to school this year and a total of 57,000 items were donated. The educational packs will go to children most in need, distributed via foodbanks as well as National Literacy Trust hubs which are set up in areas of extreme deprivation. A total of 13 areas across the country were supported by this activity, all with a high percentage of children who receive free school meals and were identified as literacy vulnerable areas by the National Literacy trust.
Speaking on the initiative, Omer Kartal, General Manager at Amazon in Dunstable, said: “The team at Amazon in Dunstable is privileged to have been involved in putting together bundles of back-to-school essentials with the National Literacy Trust. This is just one small way we can deliver smiles to children in our community and far beyond.”
“I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to take part in the brilliant initiative with Amazon in Dunstable and the National Literacy Trust,” said Nissa Najum, an employee who took part in the packing. “We had a great day assembling the packs and are glad to know that children have gone back to school with exactly what they need to start the year well.”
The back-to-school activity is part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon is committed to our colleagues, customers, and communities, providing cash, product donations and in-kind services to support millions of people. Our mission is to make a difference in the world by empowering and supporting our teams to actively build long-lasting solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges.
Read more about the ways Amazon UK supports its communities.
