Photo Credit: Daniel Graves.

Following its long-term relationship with the Bupa Foundation, Krome is delighted to have been invited to take part in the forthcoming Salford Literacy Trail. Krome is sponsoring two of the twenty BookBenches that are due to feature in this exciting literacy project, designed to inspire children to explore new worlds and experiences through the power of stories and reading.

About the Salford Literacy Trail

The Salford Literacy Trail is a collaboration between the National Literacy Trust and the Bupa Foundation to create twenty BookBench sculptures in the heart of Salford. Running from Thursday 14th July to Friday 9th September 2022, these eye-catching, unmissable benches have been designed by local artists working together with Salford schools.

Each one uniquely captures how children feel about the books and stories that have inspired them and helped them get in touch with their emotions. It’s an opportunity for families to discover the joys and benefits of reading by exploring the trail and taking part in a programme of activities over ten weeks in the summer.

Krome’s CEO Rupert Mills commented:

“The Salford Literacy Trail is an initiative that we are incredibly proud to be a part of; the past few years have been beyond challenging for many, with the learning and development of children being heavily impacted. By supporting the National Literacy Trust and the Bupa Foundation with this project, we hope to be able to support disadvantaged children and the local schools; offering the help and resources needed to inspire every child to read and giving them the opportunity to experience the wealth of knowledge that is accessible via literacy.”

About Krome Technologies’ sponsored benches

Krome Technologies, who have an office located in Salford Quays, is delighted to support the project by sponsoring two of these unique benches, helping to support literacy and wellbeing in the local area of Salford.

One of the Krome benches will be situated near the Blue Peter Garden and has been created by artist Amanda Quellin in consultation with Willow Tree Primary School.

The other bench will be in MediaCity, next to Bupa House, and the artist for this bench will be Jenny Leonard, working with the children at Lark Hill Community Primary School.

The BookBenches are being created with the help of Wild in Art, a specialist organisation behind many other successful trails, such as Bee in the City, Elmer’s Great North Parade, and Walking with The Snowman.

Mike Leyland, Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust says:

“We are absolutely delighted that Krome Technologies is sponsoring two BookBenches for the Salford Literacy Trail. School closures in Salford and across the UK caused by COVID-19 disproportionately impacted children from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, the poverty attainment gap is expected to widen by as much as 75%, with disadvantaged children falling as far as 16 months behind their better-off peers.

The sponsorship provided by Krome Technologies is therefore hugely important and will provide vital funding for the National Literacy Trust to champion reading to local disadvantaged children. We hope that our programmes and this Literacy Trail will allow these children to discover the joy of books, which will help them succeed at school, get a better job, and look after their health and wellbeing.”

Information about sponsoring a bench

There are still opportunities to sponsor a BookBench and support the initiative for raising literacy and well-being for the children of Salford. Sponsorship of a Salford Literacy Trail starts at £3,500 +VAT.

Please visit the National Literacy Trust website for more information or contact Grace Robinson, Head of Partnership Development, at 07849 353 733 or grace.robinson@literacytrust.org.uk.

https://literacytrust.org.uk/support-us/corporate-support/sponsor-the-salford-literacy-trail/

About the National Literacy Trust

The National Literacy Trust’s mission is to improve the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of those who need it most, giving them the best possible chance of success in school, work and life. They run Literacy Hubs and campaigns in communities where low levels of literacy and social mobility are seriously impacting people’s lives and provide support to schools and early years settings to deliver outstanding literacy provision, campaigning to make literacy a priority for politicians, businesses and parents.

Visit literacytrust.org.uk to find out more.