Suella Braverman opens country's third 'reading oasis' at primary school in Fareham

Suella Braverman opened the country’s third ‘reading oasis’ funded by the Estee Lauder Companies UK and Ireland (ELC UK and Ireland) at St Columba School, in Tewkesbury Ave, on Friday March 6.

Volunteers from the make-up company – which has a base in Segensworth – helped build the new area, which is designed to give children more space to enjoy reading.

It comes as the company has donated more than 6,000 books to schools across the UK and Ireland in the last year, according to Sue Fox, senior vice president ELC UK and Ireland.

She said: ‘Our colleagues have really enjoyed getting involved in building libraries and reading to children. Giving every child the opportunity to love reading is something that we’re truly passionate about as a company.’

Earlier this year, the business signed the National Literacy Trust’s Vision for Literacy Business Pledge 2020 which commits them to promoting literacy to increase social mobility.

An estimated 5 million adults in the UK have literacy issues – and more than 800,000 children in the UK do not have a book of their own at home.

Suella Braverman said: ‘It was a pleasure to open the new Reading Oasis library funded by The Estée Lauder Companies and witness the positive impact the new books have had on the children.

‘Encouraging reading among children is so important and I am delighted that the school has a lovely new library to enjoy.’

The make-up company partnered with United Way, the world’s largest privately-funded charity, to complete the space.

Jane Hudson-Jones, CEO of United Way said: ‘We are thrilled to be partnering with The Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland to expand the Reading Oasis project in the UK.

‘The goal of the project is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to love reading, and for every primary school in the UK to have a dedicated space for children to read for pleasure by 2025.’