Magazine
publisher IPC and a host of Fleet Street names are joining forces to
back children’s literacy charity Springboard for Children.
Family
Circle and Practical Parenting are highlighting the work of the
charity, which recently attracted top-level media coverage when its
patron, Sarah, Duchess of York, revealed that her 17- year-old
daughter, Princess Beatrice, was dyslexic.
And IPC SouthBank is
working to create an innovative partnership with Springboard, which
puts literacy units into inner city primary schools to overcome
children’s dyslexia and allied learning difficulties.
Fergie made
her headline-hitting announcement during a press conference at the
Oliver Goldsmith School in Peckham, where gang murder victim Damilola
Taylor was a pupil and where Springboard for Children has a highly
successful literacy unit.
Many big name journalists, led by
former Fleet Street executive and IPC editor Kate Hadley, helped as
volunteers to put the scoop together, including Alan Frame, Gill
Martin, Felicity Green and John Downing. Hadley said: “Passing on the
message to otherjournalists was easy. The camaraderie among journalists
is such that even hardened old cynics are happy to get involved.
There’s a constant flow of journalists to Peckham these days, all keen
to help.”
The charity was also boosted by Beatrice’s cover shoot
and interview with Tatler, and You Magazine and the Evening Standard
have also offered support and coverage.
Later this year, selected
volunteers from the charity will appear as nominees for Family Circle’s
Change Your World Awards. Practical Parenting will also carry further
coverage.
Other journalists who have offered support include: Ron
Morgans, Sally O’Sullivan, Matthew Line, Felicity Hawkins, Rosalie
Horner, Bob Harris, Eve Pollard and Robin Esser.
Further details can be obtained at www.springboard.com or from Kate Hadley on 020 7701 7581.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog