To mark World Book Day 2025, our academy prospects Claude Kayibanda, Isaiah Harvey and Jordan Iwhiwhu joined Luton Town Community Trust coaches Hafizal Islam and Avan Jones in visiting local primary schools to help pupils with their reading.
World Book Day, National Literacy Trust and Premier League Charitable Fund
Luton Town Community Trust gave free books to local partner primary schools in Bedfordshire and the coaches delivered special reading workshops, together with Luton Town mascots Happy Harry and Happy Hatty, as part of our in-classroom Premier League Primary Stars session delivery.
The books were donated to the programme by the World Book Day Charity, run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
Luton Town FC Community Trust is one of 103 professional football club charities across England and Wales to benefit from free books as the Premier League is giving away more than 28,000 free books to children across England and Wales through its Premier League Primary Stars education programme.
Hafizal and Avan, the former Town defender who now coaches with the Community Trust while playing for National League South club Chesham United, visited Wigmore Primary School.
As well as receiving the books, local schools also received their own video with Hatters defenders Mark McGuinness and Reuell Walters reading 'Football is for Everyone' by Rico Hinson-King, illustrated by Nick Sharratt and published by Bloomsbury.
EFL Diverse Book project
Claude, Isaiah and Jordan helped deliver a reading workshop at Tithe Farm Primary School in Houghton Regis to promote diversity in literature and football, while Happy Harry and Hatty gave the school the EFL's carefully curated book collection, which includes a wide range of titles which represent different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Continuing from last year, the EFL provides 2,000 books to primary schools across England and Wales.
"It's fantastic to be able to come into local schools like this and help the children with their reading," said Claude. "You can tell that they hang on every word you are reading to them, and for Luton Town Football Club to be able to deliver so many books to help them with their education is a huge boost for the school.
"It's been a pleasure to come out into the community and meet so many young Hatters fans, as well as the teachers who do such a brilliant job in helping them understand how important reading is."
