Northampton-based municipal vehicle and plant contract hire experts, Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS), has joined forces with Business in the Community (BITC) as part of its commitment to forge links within the local community.

SFS has trained and CRB checked 14 members of staff who have volunteered to visit a local primary school each week and assist the children with their reading activities. The volunteers work on a rota basis, with 4 employees visiting the school each week for 1 ½ hour sessions.

BITC is responsible for bringing SFS and Duston Eldean Primary School, Northampton together as part of its Right to Read initiative.

Bob Sweetland, managing director, SFS said: “We take our Corporate Social Responsibility seriously and we want to make a positive contribution within our local community. Right to Read is a fantastic initiative and I’m delighted to say that we weren’t short of volunteers coming forward to take part.”

“We hope this will be the beginning of a long term partnership with the school.”

Andy Stevenson Deputy Head of Duston Eldean Primary School said: “We wanted to develop links within the business community so we spoke to BITC and they put us in touch with SFS. Hearing individual children read is such a beneficial activity and boosts children’s reading skills and self-confidence.”

“It’s also important that the children develop their interpersonal skills by meeting people from all walks of life, with different skills and jobs, to help us promote a good work ethic and prepare them for the future.”

“The SFS volunteers have been so enthusiastic and the response from teachers and pupils has been excellent.”

BITC Northamptonshire Community Impact Manager, Peter Coe said:

“We help companies who are committed to being socially responsible and engage them in communities where there is the greatest need.  There are significant advantages to both parties when businesses and schools form partnerships. Schools get to build links with the business sector, an important source of support and advice for the future, and volunteering enriches an organisation and its employees.”

“In every school where the Right to Read initiative exists, the schools report accelerated learning, in some cases up to one whole school year ahead. I congratulate SFS on their commitment to the Northamptonshire community and I hope that other organisations will follow their example.”