A Congleton charity wants to make the world a better place, through better representation in books.

Reads for Representation aims to provide schools with more diverse and inclusive children's books.

They serve the local area and across the UK, but operate from the Congleton home of married couple Emma Udi and Abasieno Udi.

Three years after it was founded, the charity will receive vital funding thanks to customers of Co-op Food and Co-op Funeralcare.

Co-op Members can raise money for the local good cause just by doing their weekly shop, and selecting 'Reads for Representation' on the Co-op app.

Reads for Representation co-founders Emma and Abasieno - or Seno for short - explained how the organisation came to be.

"Reads for Representation is a charity which focuses on delivering books to schools that have ethnic minority characters as their central characters and are written by a minority", said Secretary and Trustee Seno.

"It offers a different perspective of things. And we gift them to schools across the country."

"We want to get them in the classrooms", said Chairperson Emma.

"We've got two mixed race children. When our daughter was two, she came home from nursery and started saying things like 'daddy you're bad because you're black, and we started researching it and realised that her home environment wasn't very inclusive. The dolls and books she had weren't very representative. And she was set to start the school the next year.

"So we surveyed the classroom to see how many books they had that had people that looked like her in them, and it was less than three percent, and they were books about black people written by white people.

"There were also books with negative stereotypes. So we thought we could use our professional skills to do something here, and set up with the initial name Dive in Education, but this year we've rebranded to Reads for Representation."

The pair work in tech sales and law respectively. The Congleton residents spend countless evenings and weekends working on the charity, as well as taking days off from their day jobs to deliver the books to primary schools.

Emma, who is originally from Congleton, moved back to her hometown with Seno in 2019. The charity was started one year later.

"Our funding is a rough split", said Emma.

"We speak to publishers and often they will give some books for free to us and then we will pay for others. There are also discounts available when we explain who we are as well.

"All the books we give to schools are brand new. We read every book, and work with like-minded organisations to identify key learning or talking points from books [to ensure the books are as educational as they are representative]. It also helps the teachers to discuss and navigate these issues with the students."

The funds raised from the Co-op partnership will go to providing books for Congleton schoolchildren.

Recent local schools they have donated to include ones in Marton, Buglawton, and Blackfirs.

The charity also applies for separate grants which help them do their work across the country.

The Co-op Local Community fund, which is funded by Co-op members buying Co-op branded products, could generate thousands of pounds for Reads for Representation.

The total will be presented to the charity at the Co-op Congleton Bromley Road store in November.

Congleton Co-op Member Pioneer Alison Wright said: "We are so passionate about having Reads for Representation on board. We have not supported a charity like this in Congleton, which is why we are so keen to work together."

"It felt amazing to be chosen as a Co-op local cause", revealed Emma.

"There are so many deserving causes out there, especially at the moment, we are really grateful.

"All the money raised will go towards books. For example, £1,000 would give a wide range of books to 1.5 schools. Each school gets 150 books, we are trying to make an impact.

"To any Co-op member that selects funds they have raised to go to us, we would like to say an immense thank you.

"You are changing the lives of children, a child might pick up one of these books and go on to be inspired to do something they thought they might have not been able to do because they've never seen someone that looks like them."

"The most important thing here is, the more schools we can reach, the quicker we can help society, reduce stereotypes and create an environment where children can be proud of who they are," concluded Seno.

Congleton: You can follow the local charity and Co-op cause on Facebook. Reads for Representation also have more information and contact details on their website.

Congleton: It couldn't be easier to raise money for local causes, simply pay £1 to become a Co-op Member and shop as you please, at no extra cost to you.

Remember to make sure you select Reads for Representation on the Co-op app if you want your money to go to them!

Congleton: Join the Co-op today online at this webpage or in-store.

Click on this other link to find out more about the Local Community Fund.

Other Congleton Co-op causes this year include Congleton Town FC, Visyon and Friends for Leisure.

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