In honour of World Book Day on 7 March, Rouge Bouillon celebrated the power of reading with a special event hosted in the school's recently transformed library.

From 1:30pm-3pm, the school's library became a hub of activity, as pupils from different year groups paired up to read together as part of Rouge Bouillon's Buddy Reading Programme. To add some excitement to the day, pupils dressed as superheroes to support the day's theme: Reading is a Superpower.

Every Child Our Future volunteers from Ogier joined the celebrations alongside community volunteers who read with Key Stage One and Key Stage Two pupils every week. The event was hosted in the school's recently transformed library that was once an underutilised IT space. Championed by Rouge Bouillon's librarian, Mrs Jehan, the new space creates a wonderful multi-functional area that promotes the enjoyment of reading.

Rouge Bouillon's Deputy Head, Jess Doyle said: "We were thrilled to use our new library space on World Book Day for our Buddy Reading Programme and are grateful to Mrs Jehan for leading on these projects. It was also an opportunity to thank the individuals who dedicate their time to help our students develop their reading skills. In particular, a big thank you to our corporate partner, Ogier, whose volunteers have supported our pupils since 2017 and have contributed to the development of our library.

"Not only is reading a fun activity, it has the ability to transform children's lives. Making reading a fun and positive experience during these formative years, including the simple act of choosing a book, can help set the children up for success."

Through our charity partnership with Every Child Our Future, Ogier has a team of 18 volunteers who visit the school to provide individual reading support to pupils in Key Stage One and Two.

Ogier's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Nicola Carroll said: "Through stories and reading, we can delve into adventures, be transported to new worlds, or even learn more about our own. Rouge Boullion's World Book Day theme couldn't be more appropriate – reading really is a superpower! We're delighted to continue our support of Rouge Bouillon and loved celebrating World Book Day with the students. Enabling young people to thrive and supporting organisations that provide equitable access to learning and extra-curricular opportunities is one of Ogier's CSR focus areas."

To find out about Every Child our Future and their programmes, visit www.everychildourfuture.org