A reading programme for parents and their kids run by a housing association has been nominated for a top award.

Reading from the Start has been taking place at the Victoria Park Community Centre for three years and is aimed at encouraging young children to pick up books.

Run by Peabody, it also helps parents become more confident reading to their little ones. Now it has been shortlisted for a National Housing Federation Community Impact Award in the Investing in People category.

Peabody director Veronica Kirwan said: “We know that improving early childhood literacy requires more than just getting children to read, we need to support and encourage parents too.

“Peabody are proud to support families in Hackney to re-ignite their love of reading and to give children the best possible start in life through our Reading from the Start project.”

Hackney’s deputy mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble went down this week to check out the class.

She said: “Reading opens up whole worlds of opportunities and fostering a love of books from an early age is one of the greatest gifts we can give to young people.”

The programme is open to everyone in the community, but children in Peabody homes can also receive a free book every month.

It runs at the Gore Road community centre on Tuesdays from 10am to 11.30am and at the Peabody Community Centre in Dalston Lane from 11am to 1pm.

For more information, visit bit.ly/peabodyreading.