A BRAND new chapter is about to be written in the lives of thousands of children across Swindon.

Flagging literacy levels among pupils are to be given a massive boost as an innovative new scheme is soon to take off.

The National Literacy Trust, an independent charity that works with schools to improve literacy skills, has teamed up with Swindon Borough Council to open a National Literacy Trust Hub known locally as Swindon Stories.

The hubs work to tackle low literacy levels that seriously impact people’s lives.

Swindon will join a list of existing hubs set up by the charity around the country, including Bradford, Middlesbrough, Peterborough and Stoke-on-Trent.

National Literacy Trust director Jonathan Douglas said: “We are delighted to be working in Swindon, a town with such rich literary and cultural heritage, to make literacy a priority.

“We are looking forward to building innovative partnerships with local businesses, libraries, schools and other organisations, and taking our evidence-based programmes into local schools.

“Together we can inspire change through words and ensure that every young person in Swindon has the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.”

Funded by WHSmith, Swindon Stories will encourage the whole town to make reading, writing and talking a priority, encompassing a range of projects and initiatives to give young people the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.

Low levels of literacy and poverty are closely linked, and research shows that there are areas across Swindon where literacy issues are particularly prevalent.

Swindon hub manager Anish Noble-Harrison said: “This is an exciting time for Swindon and a real opportunity to help raise aspirations for our community.

“Through our Swindon Stories campaign, our programmes and our partnerships, we can extend our reach and help promote a real love of words, reading and literacy.”

Swindon Stories will officially launch on Thursday, February 8 with a literacy-themed bus tour of local schools. It will be supported by Thamesdown Transport.

Starting at the Central Library, where key partners will gather to celebrate the launch, the bus will visit six primary and secondary schools with local musician and hip hop artist AJ Mayhew.

Nicki Woodhead, head of corporate responsibility at WHSmith, said: “WHSmith is delighted to be supporting the Swindon Stories campaign as part of our 225th anniversary charity partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

“W are committed to supporting families in the Swindon area and hope the campaign will inspire thousands of local children to enjoy reading, giving them a brighter future.”