Published: Thursday, 4th June, 2009 8:00am

Yes, Prime Minister!

by Annabel Williams

Comments (0) | Print | Email

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has sent a personal response to youngsters at a Tilehurst secondary school trying to help deprived children around the globe.

Students from Prospect School"s special needs department, The Bridge, took part in The Big Read to help the world"s 75 million children who are missing out on school through poverty.

Organised by the Global Campaign for Education, high-profile supporters include former South Africa president Nelson Mandela and teenage actor Dakota Blue.

Prospect students read poems, stories and speeches they had written about children in poverty to Reading West MP, Martin Salter.

He then personally delivered them to Mr Brown and returned to deliver the Prime Minister"s response.

Mr Brown wrote to the students: 'I believe investing in the education of children is really important.

'Education can change a child"s life so that they lead longer and healthier lives and are able to look after their own children.

'Thank you for taking the time and trouble to write.'

Headteacher, Deborah Ajose, said: 'Through The Big Read initiative, our Bridge students have been learning how lucky they are to receive a high-quality 'free" education, and that sadly some children around the world are not so fortunate.

'It is very rewarding to know that Mr Brown has read their poems and essays and taken the trouble to respond.'

For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Reading you can purchase the e-edition of the Reading Chronicle click here.