Costa Coffee raising a cup to kids' reading in South Shields

Costa Coffee, in South Shields, is joining in the company’s Reading Week to help promote literacy across the country.

The town branch of the coffee shop, which is based in the Next outlet, is one of 500 stores inviting youngsters along to pull up a chair and take part in reading activities.

It will be joining stores nationwide running the event throughout this week until Sunday.

Kirsty Tod, manager of the branch, said this is the first time Shields’ Costa has taken part in the event and everyone was looking forward to it.

She said it will be running the sessions from 3.30pm to 5.30pm every afternoon this week and throughout the weekend.

Kirsty added: “It was something we were happy to get involved with. We have a member of staff reading with the children.”

This is the second year the company has run the event and is hoping parents, teachers and children will go down to the store and enjoy a range of literacy-themed activities on offer that aim to teach children about the environment.

Reading Week is held in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, The Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, Keep Britain Tidy and Helping Hand Environmental to tackle low literacy levels across the UK.

The Litter Heroes booklet will be available to read in store and has been specially created for Costa Reading Week, featuring a new story from Barney and Echo about litter and responsibility in our communities.

Sandy Gourlay, of Costa, said: “Reading Week is part of a wider initiative established to enable Costa’s team members to make a difference to their local communities. We are thrilled to be able to work with partners to welcome young people to our stores this week to enjoy a good book.”

Costa employees will also donate approximately 30,000 Barney and Echo books, provided by the Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, directly to their local schools.