This June, Connaught House School held a Readathon, encouraging pupils, staff and parents to enjoy reading. The Readathon began on 6 June and the school raised money for UNICEF’s global work with displaced children.

The Readathon culminated in an event in Hyde Park, where pupils, staff, parents and carers came together to read outdoors. The event took place on 20 June 2022 – World Refugee Day – a date which served to highlight the international work of UNICEF supporting children displaced from their homes.

Baskets of books were taken along, and children gathered around their teachers to hear magical stories brought to life. Students were treated to a broad array of books – some literary classics, others beloved modern tales. Some of the many books read aloud were: Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stephenson and Shackleton’s Journey by William Gill.

Many pupils, parents and carers brought along their own books to read independently during the afternoon in Hyde Park, with one student reading in both Dutch and English. Children were encouraged to read whatever they preferred – recipes, comics, stories, poems or anything else!

In addition to championing all the benefits of reading, the Readathon raised funds for and awareness of an important cause. The school raised an impressive total of £2,177 for UNICEF’s work supporting children in 190 countries.