By Dan Lewis 
Coventry Rugby was extremely proud to support the hard work of our Community Partners, Charter Savings Bank at the grand opening of Colmore School’s brand new reading area.
The “Reading for Pleasure Zone” was funded by Charter Savings Bank who aim to create positive change for local communities through charitable contributions, and investing in partnerships and programmes that benefit those who are otherwise underserved and overlooked. Over the course of our three-year partnership, Charter Savings Bank has been vital in helping us deliver our Community department initiatives, assisting with programmes such as Project:500 and Rugby & Reading.
On launch day, Coventry Rugby’s Community department and players including Suva Ma’asi, Jordon Poole and Toby Trinder delivered an action-packed Rugby & Reading session to the pupils of Colemore School. Representatives from Charter Savings Bank and local MP Steve McCabe were also present for the launch of the area which was complete with ribbon cutting, tea and cake.
The Rugby & Reading programme was set up as an answer to the UK literacy crisis. In 2018, a study by the National Literacy Trust showed that one in eight disadvantaged children do not have a book of their own.
Through Rugby & Reading, we help inspire children to pick up a book and stay healthy via weekly sessions delivered in local schools. These include:
- One hour of one-to-one reading, with multiple or small groups, with our professional players
- One hour of active engaging multi-sport
- Helping to develop confidence through literacy and physical literacy.
The success of the day is a reminder of the positive impact that sport has on local communities through purposeful partnerships that extend well beyond the pitch. Thank you to Charter Savings Bank for getting us involved and we look forward to developing our community initiatives alongside them this coming season.
You can read more about the day on the Charter Savings Bank website.
