Hundreds of youngsters from Cambuslang get the chance to attend Wee Write festival

More than 200 young people from schools in Cambuslang recently attended a Glasgow book festival especially for children.

The pupils from Cairns Primary and St Cadoc’s Primary in Halfway, and West Coats Primary all took part in Wee Write, Glasgow’s dedicated children’s book festival which is hosted annually by Glasgow Life.

Funding of £2,500 from UKSE, a subsidiary of Tata Steel Enterprise, enabled the young students to attend flagship events, covering transport costs and providing each child with a book to take home.

The Wee Write Festival marked its 10th anniversary this year and ran from November 4 to 8 at iconic venues across the city, including the Royal Concert Hall and Mitchell Library.

This year’s programme featured readings by authors Masie Chan and Abi Elphinstone, interactive drawing sessions with illustrators like Sophy Henn, Steve Lenton, and Tom Morgan Jones, and a special Beano-themed celebration hosted by Mike Stirling and Craig Graham.

Pupils were encouraged to dress as their favourite comic characters and enjoy live drawing showdowns, adding to the fun of the festival’s Birthday Bash with the beloved children’s comic.

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Closely linked to its sister event, Aye Write, Wee Write continues to be a key event in Glasgow’s cultural calendar, dedicated to fostering a love of reading among children from primary to secondary school. This is the sixth year that UKSE has provided funding to the Wee Write festival.

Fiona Haddow, lead programmer for the Wee Write Festival, said: “Thanks to the generous support from UKSE, we can offer these invaluable experiences to children who might not otherwise have had the chance to attend.

“The Wee Write festival is all about igniting a passion for reading, and this year’s events have been designed to be as interactive and engaging as possible. We’re thrilled that the children from Cambuslang joined us, and we hope the books they took home will be the start of their own personal library journey.”

Marc Davey, regional executive at UKSE, said: “We are proud to continue our support for Wee Write as it marks this milestone anniversary. Our continued support has ensured that youngsters can experience the joy of reading by attending this fantastic event.

“Literacy is a fundamental skill that opens doors throughout life, and by supporting initiatives like this, we are investing in the future of our communities. The Wee Write festival plays an important role in fostering the love of reading, helping children discover the joy of literacy and storytelling.”

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