00:00Why is reading so important?
00:02When I read, it gives me more knowledge and ideas.
00:07And I think it's actually really fun to read books because it can get your imagination active.
00:11It will give me more knowledge and my brain will work harder than it would if I were watching my
00:18phone.
00:19That's why their primary school have opened a mini outdoor library,
00:23allowing the children to come at the weekend or on school holidays and pick a book.
00:27The children were just so excited because we kept it closed for this week
00:32and we opened it yesterday in preparation for World Book Day.
00:35They didn't know what was inside.
00:37And when we opened it and they saw all the amazing, wonderful selection of books in there,
00:42plus there are bookmarks in there for the children to take for free to support them with knowing where they
00:46are in the book.
00:47They were just so excited and so happy.
00:49Yes, it's nice to get children reading actual books and away from tablets and the TV and to know that
00:55lots of film.
00:56So obviously children watch a lot of films on TV, but to know that those films come from actual books
01:01is fantastic.
01:02It looks amazing. It's really appealing to the children.
01:05The fact we've got all the books on the doors, it's been beautifully decorated by our fobs as well.
01:10It's just really appealing and stands out on the road as well for other people to use.
01:14And clearly, they were very excited indeed.
01:18So you find it very exciting then?
01:19Yeah.
01:20Why do you think it's so important?
01:22Because it gives you more knowledge and it's...
01:25Yeah, because some books can maybe help you improve your grammar.
01:31Okay.
01:31Initially, the school bought a unit off Facebook Marketplace, but it fell apart and wasn't weatherproof.
01:37The PTA then decided to do a raffle to raise funds for a new one.
01:41FM Conway saw the raffle post and decided to give them a new unit free of charge, meaning all the
01:47raffle money raised was able to go towards new books.
01:51So as part of being FM Conway, we have like a social value initiative.
01:55So we contact local charities, local schools, see if there's anything we can help out with.
02:00Because where we're maintaining the trunk road for the next 10 years, we like to give back to the local
02:04communities.
02:05So I'd seen a Facebook post saying that the school wanted to get an outdoor library.
02:09So I contacted the school and said, is this something I can buy for you?
02:12Because I know schools are always short funded.
02:15And yeah, they jumped at the chance.
02:17So we've bought it and then they've filled it with the books.
02:20With the help from FM Conway, which manages and maintains the A249,
02:25children in the area now have easier access to books and learning,
02:29helping to inspire the next generation of readers and authors.
02:34Kristen Hawthorne, KMTV in Sittingbourne.
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