I am currently the RAF Museum’s children’s writer in residence<\/strong>.\u00a0 In the lead up to the Royal Air Force centenary in 2018, I worked with the museum’s visitors to help them get the best out of their experience.\u00a0 \u00a0You can find out more about that here<\/a>\u00a0and an interview with me about it\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n

I also work with Reading Force<\/a> who promote\u00a0sharing and talking about\u00a0books with\u00a0children in\u00a0British Armed Service\u00a0\u00a0families. \u00a0Find out<\/strong> more about that here.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>2017-2018<\/strong>
\nI am excited to be Patron of Reading at primary schools in two very different geographical locations :<\/p>\n

Somerville Primary School in Birmingham
\nSt Wilfrid\u2019s Primary School near Preston, Lancashire more here<\/a><\/p>\n

“Our boys and the audience found him really engaging \u2013 fascinated by how he came to love reading and then became a writer.\u00a0 Tom\u2019s approach to literacy focuses on encouraging access by drawing upon boys\u2019 existing interests.\u00a0 Tom was, therefore, the obvious choice to be our Patron.\u201d\u00a0Newcastle School for Boys\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

2016-2017 \u00a0<\/strong>
\nI was asked to be a Patron of Reading for Newcastle School for Boys and Trinity School in Carlisle. \u00a0Newcastle School for Boys had some amazing ideas to explore cross-curricula literacy and helped me develop some new children’s books. \u00a0Trinity School was closed for a long period after being very badly damaged by flooding. \u00a0Their library alone lost 3000 books and 300 pupil\u2019s homes were flooded so there is no doubt that their reading, as well as everything else, had suffered. \u00a0I hope I helped them both with their fantastic plans to encourage\u00a0reading for pleasure.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>Please\u00a0<\/span>thank Tom again for his tremendous efforts this year. \u00a0We have gained a huge amount from working with him. \u00a0We are so appreciative of you dedicating the book to us in the opening pages\u00a0and mentioning us in the acknowledgement pages.\u00a0This means a great deal to me personally and to the staff and boys. ”\u00a0Newcastle School for Boys\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

2015-2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

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