Nationwide spread of our Time to Read programme for Primary schools
Our fantastic Time to Read programme was recently featured on Nationwide. Time to Read is Ireland’s first business to education reading initiative. Managed by The Schools’ Business Partnership it provides 2nd class children with the opportunity to receive reading support from a business volunteer. Businesses volunteer employee time in local schools to read with primary school children, encouraging them to read and thus improving their literacy skills. The children from St Patrick’s Girls National School in Ringsend and ESB and Irish Life employees were featured on last night’s episode. Also pupil Mark Stapleton (and his mum Anne), who has been through the programme assisted by Irish Life employee volunteers, talks about how as a result of the programme he’s reading The Financial Times, wants to be an accountant and spends his birthday money on books. Pat O’Doherty, CEO, ESB described the fundamental need for all children to develop their literary skills and how businesses engaging with the communities they operate through the programme can address this. Watch the Nationwide episode to hear about how the programme is benefiting both students and business.
Find out more about our Time to Read programme here.
We celebrate ten years with ten companies and schools
10 companies celebrated 10 years in The Schools’ Business Partnership this year and to celebrate we held a lunch in honour of both the schools and business in the Winding Stairs gallery on Thursday January 20th. It was a very joyous event where staff members past and present reflected on the success of their partnerships over the years.
The schools and companies in attendance were:
Abbott Laboratories |
Killinarden CS, Dublin 24 |
KPMG |
Westland Row CBS, Dublin 2 |
Danske Bank |
Synge Street CBS, Dublin 8 |
Cisco Systems |
Technical Institute, Ringsend |
State Street International |
O’Connell’s CBS, Dublin 1 |
Marks and Spencer |
Larkin CC, Dublin 1 |
Bank Of Ireland |
St Thomas’ CC, Wicklow |
Grafton Group |
Moyle Park College, Dublin 22 |
Procter & Gamble |
Rosary College, Dublin 12 |
Musgrave SVC |
St Kevin’s CC, Dublin 22 |