First Class Supply, the leading teaching supply agency, is delighted to announce its exclusive education sponsorship of Seven Stories, the national centre for children’s literature, which is based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
The sponsorship will enable Whitley Bay based First Class Supply, one of the fastest growing independent teaching supply agencies in the North East, to offer a range of free activities to its partner schools. These will range from sessions in schools and at Seven Stories, fantastic experience days, Authors into Schools Programme, exciting World Book Day opportunities and even CPD for teachers in schools.
First Class has launched its partnership with Seven Stories with an activity that was enjoyed by pupils from White Mere Primary School in Gateshead. Fifty seven pupils took part in Seven Stories ‘Dear Fairy Godmother’ session, where children discovered a range of letters from different well-known characters before they created their own mixed up fairy tale through drama and composed a group letter about their adventures.
Since it opened in 2005, Seven Stories has been Britain's national gallery and archive of children's literature and art.
Housed in a seven storey, Grade II listed Victorian warehouse, it celebrates the role of books in childhood and the place of children’s literature in British culture. Seven Stories is home to a national collection of manuscripts and original illustrations by some of the UK's finest authors and children's illustrators, including work by Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Jones, Philip Pullman and Quentin Blake. Its collection of original typescripts by Enid Blyton is the largest repository of her work in the world.
A rolling programme of exhibitions, events and learning programmes serves the institution's aim to save and protect Britain’s literary heritage for children.
The Whitley Bay-based firm regularly engages in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), activities in the community, and has chosen Seven Stories as its primary sponsor organisation based on the vital work it does. Its sponsorship will help Seven Stories stage more exhibitions and will also help with the organisation’s regular outreach work in schools.
Lesley Robinson, director of First Class Supply, said: “I am delighted to announce our sponsorship of Seven Stories. Seven Stories is the national leader in displaying original material for children’s books and bringing it to life for younger audiences. Many of our partner schools work already with Seven Stories, and we’re very pleased to announce our new partnership with such an exciting and innovative organisation.”
Co-Director Stephanie Boulton added “Through our partnership we will now be able to offer our valued user schools a whole range of exciting benefits free of charge. We are extremely proud to be the exclusive partners of this fantastic initiative and look forward to our local schools reaping the benefits!”
She added: “Seven Stories is an amazing cultural resource for children, young people, schools, teachers, writers and artists that’s second to none in our country. It’s a wonderful facility that also provides a range of vital outreach activities for our region. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year and big name children’s authors including Michael Rosen. Our sponsorship will be both fun and extremely rewarding, and I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the organisation’s many community activities.”
Fiona Melvin, Learning Director at Seven Stories said: “We are delighted to establish a partnership with First Class Supply. Working with a North East company who are genuinely committed to giving something back to our schools and communities is very exciting, and we look forward to encouraging our local children to discover a love of books and reading together.”
ENDS