The company behind the annual Wigtown Book Festival has been shortlisted to receive much-needed funds from RBS. If successful, Wigtown Festival Company – the only organisation in D&G to be shortlisted – will put the money towards its Education Programme, which brings school pupils to the festival and takes authors to more schools across the region.
In the past, the festival in Scotland’s National Book Town has attracted well-loved children’s authors, including Julia Donaldson, Mairi Hedderwick, Phillip Ardagh and Nick Sharratt. New additions to this year’s schools programme include more choices for pupils visiting the festival and a Young Readers and Writers Day, which will bring together young readers and writers with professional authors and storytellers to try out new ideas and writing techniques.
The RBS Skills and Opportunities Fund provides £2.5m to support charities and community groups across the UK and in Scotland is particularly keen on contributing to education projects.
What can you do to help?
Wigtown Festival Company would like everyone in Dumfries & Galloway to lend their support by voting for them. The public vote is like an extra judge on the panel and the more support they have, the better! There are no other projects in the region on the shortlist so this is a great way to support something here in D&G.
Anne Barclay, Operational Director of Wigtown Festival Company, said, “We’re really delighted to have been shortlisted and are grateful to RBS for giving us this opportunity. We’d love it if everyone could encourage their families, friends and colleagues to take a moment to cast their vote for us. The great thing is we’re not just about the 10-day festival in Wigtown, we’re now running a whole programme of literature events and activities throughout the year and across the region, so if our application is successful children right across D&G will benefit.”
You can vote online at http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.co.uk/vote.html until Friday 22nd April. The winners will be announced at the end of May.
Picture Credit – Andy Jardine
