Dozens of Cambuslang Primary School pupils attended the Wee Write festival in Glasgow this week thanks to a £2,500 donation from UKSE.

Over the past five years, the steel subsidiary UKSE has donated funding for Cambuslang pupils to attend the Wee Write in Glasgow as well as for children to take books home.

The students attended an event led by Parinita Shetty at the Royal Concert Hall where they explored her picture book A Birthday Present for Aaji. Set in India, the book explores a young girl’s search for the perfect birthday present to give her grandmother.

The Wee Write festival is Glasgow’s book festival for children and young people. Hosted annually by Glasgow Life, the festival is part of the city’s long-running Aye Write and celebrates the very best of children’s authors and illustrators.

The event ran between June 2 and 9, with events taking place at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Mitchell Library, schools, and community libraries.

Scott Webb, regional manager at UKSE, said: “We have been proud supporters of the Wee Write festival for five years now and it is fantastic to see the event continue to go from strength to strength. Although we are very much in a digital-first world, it is intrinsic to encourage our next generation to appreciate books and read from a young age.

“Reading sparks creativity and imagination, and Glasgow Life’s Wee Write festival is a perfect example of a community-based initiative that helps children adopt positive, life-long skills through the love of reading.”

Fiona Haddow, Glasgow Life reader development and literacies officer, added: “We are indebted to our funders and sponsors, including UKSE, for their continued support of the festival. Their generosity ensures Wee Write can deliver a vibrant, diverse and inclusive programme of fun, interactive events that really engage children with reading.

“Having an opportunity to hear directly from a great line-up of authors and illustrators makes a memorable impact and boosts interest in and enthusiasm for books significantly. That’s integral to improving literacy and language skills, so the festival is creating a vital lasting legacy for our young people.”

For more information on Glasgow Life, visit: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/