Birmingham Airport Helps Children’s Literature Project Take Flight
Birmingham Airport has jumped on board with a new children’s literature project that aims to empower children across the world, working with local author and businesswoman Alison Delaney, founder of Little Bird.
(From left to right) Andy Holding - Corporate Responsibility Manager at Birmingham Airport, Alison Delaney - Founder of Little Bird and Author and Andy Tunstall - Head teacher at Yorkswood Primary School along with children from the school.
Through this exciting initiative, Birmingham Airport is helping children expand their imagination and reach their full potential through Dreams Workshops. Every child at Yorkswood Primary School in Kingshurst, North Solihull, a school close to the airport and part of the UNITY Trust Collaborative, receives a copy of the book as a key resource within the workshop.
“Little Chick Has Lunch On The Moon”, which was penned by Alison Delaney and beautifully illustrated by Stuart Perry, has been designed to instill a foundation for self-belief, confidence and resilience in young children. In addition to the 474 books funded by Birmingham Airport, a further 474 books will be donated by Alison to children in another school in another country. The aim is to then twin the two schools encouraging global connectivity and knowledge sharing.
Andy Holding, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Birmingham Airport, said: “We're very pleased to be supporting the Little Bird school workshops as part of our CSR activity. It’s very different and I’m certain the children with enjoy all aspects of it, from understanding self-belief to reaching out to children on the other side of the world.
“The book and workshops open children’s eyes to the world of possibilities around them, helps raise aspirations and motivate them from an early age to work hard, have ambition and reach their full potential. Alison's approach perfectly complements these ambitions and having worked with her for many years we know how inspirational and effective her methods are.
“This project is very much in line with our Corporate Responsibility Strategy of developing local communities and promoting health and wellbeing in the area.”
At a launch event held yesterday (Thursday 29 September), pupils received their copy and took part in one of Alison’s Dreams Workshops, where they discussed the messaging in the book, outlined their own dreams, and sent a positive message to their fellow pupils who will receive the donated books.
Alison Delaney, founder of Little Bird and author, said: “Giving children a positive start in life is extremely important; they are the innocence of our world and I believe it’s our duty to show them that anything is possible. The character ‘Little Chick’ was born out of my challenges in childhood and the need for someone to relate to.
“In my profession, as an Executive Coach and Mentor, I have the opportunity to help adults combat their limiting beliefs picked up in childhood.
“Alongside the books, we also had a presentation by Sehaam Bateman, founder of Ladder 2 Success in South Africa, who is working with Little Bird to twin the two schools. I'm excited to continue empowering the lives of these beautiful young people both in Solihull and abroad.”
More workshops are planned later this month in other schools close to Birmingham Airport and the intention is to roll-out further over the come years.