Pupils from The Beeches and Bishop Creighton primary schools were tickled pink when they helped unveil a specially-wrapped taxi cab to promote Peterborough City Council’s READ.WRITE.inspire literacy campaign in Cathedral Square, Peterborough on 21 February.

The former black cab has been turned bright pink and purple to advertise the campaign website www.readwriteinspire.co.uk which brings together as many of the city’s literacy resources as possible in one easy-to-reach location.

The youngsters were joined by the city council’s director for children’s services Mohammed Mehmet and Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services Councillor Geoff Ridgway.

The ‘taxi wrap’ was made possible thanks to funding from Queensgate shopping centre and the taxi is owned by Mohammed Shabbir from Betta Cars.

Councillor Ridgway said: “I can’t wait to see the taxi in all its glory. I think it is a great way to spread the word across the city about READ.WRITE.inspire which has really captured the imagination of schools and the business community in Peterborough.

“Good literacy skills are skills for life and anything that encourages children and young people to take a real interest in reading and writing should be encouraged.”

Mr Mehmet added: “The taxi wrap is just one example of how the city council is working with local businesses and organisations as part of a wider campaign to improve literacy levels to benefit us all.

READ.WRITE.inspire is a really innovative campaign and this is an imaginative way to promote it.”

The READ.WRITE.inspire website contains links to teaching resources and lesson plans for teachers, advice for parents on how to choose books for children, and tips on encouraging their child’s reading development. It includes kids' pages, with links to educational games and stories online and links to resources for children whose first language is not English.

There are also competitions, links to reading groups and homework clubs at the city’s libraries, adult education information and links to other local organisations, such as Peterborough College of Adult Education in Brook Street, Peterborough, and the Central Library in Broadway, Peterborough.

http://www.peterborough.net/news/articles/readwrite100.asp