Arun Businesses Join Forces to Support Family Reading in Bognor Regis

Around 20 small businesses across the Arun district have raised approximately £1,500 to provide two terms of reading support for a family in Bognor Regis.

Businesses from Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Barnham and the wider Arun area pooled their contributions to fund the support through Children Reading for Life, a community-led programme that helps families build confidence and develop lasting reading habits.

The businesses were brought together by David Wride, founder of Survival 2 Significance. Their collective contribution will fund support throughout the spring and summer terms.

The programme includes weekly one-to-one sessions, shared storytelling, books for the family to keep, library visits and tailored guidance for parents. It is designed to improve reading skills while helping families make reading an enjoyable part of everyday life.

David said the collaboration allowed smaller businesses to support a local project that might otherwise have been beyond their individual budgets.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses that might not be able to fund large projects on their own, but can come together to give a little and make a big difference to a child’s life,” he said.

“It is about creating connection, spending time together and giving families something meaningful that they can continue long after the support ends.

“Too often, children are in front of screens and that connection gets lost. Sitting down with a book and sharing that time is simple, but it is powerful.”

Children Reading for Life was founded by Polly Atkinson, who grew up in the area and attended St Mary’s RC Primary School.

Polly said: “Having grown up locally, it is incredibly special to return and support children and families with their reading.

“Reading is one of the most powerful gifts we can give a child, and this collective support shows how businesses can play a vital role in shaping brighter futures.”

The initiative demonstrates how smaller businesses can work together to support families and improve access to community-based literacy programmes.

Organisers hope the Arun partnership will encourage other groups of local businesses to collaborate on similar projects in their communities.