10-year partnership celebrations for Fexco and Glounaguillagh National School in Kerry
Business in the Community Ireland’s (BITCI) congratulates Fexco and Glounaguillagh National School, Killorglin, Co.Kerry for delivering it’s Time to Read and Time to Count programmes for the past decade.
The Time to Read programme aims is to build children’s confidence in reading and improve their fluency and comprehension when reading by pairing 2nd class children in mainly DEIS schools with local corporate volunteers to provide one-to-one reading support. While the Time to Count programme allows the volunteers to mix with 3rd class pupils to build children’s confidence around numbers, reinforce their conceptual understanding around numbers and support them in mathematical problem solving. Both of these programmes also include a workplace visit, a great opportunity to introduce pupils to the world of work.
Over the past 10 years, Fexco has had 97 volunteers participate in the programme, who have reported it as being a valuable experience.
Andrea Lazenby Simpson, BITCI Head of Education said “We applaud Fexco for their ongoing commitment to these programmes which is a testament to the enduring success of these different initiatives. These programmes have proven that the pupils do better in school and have better self-esteem. While the volunteers report an increase in their own self-confidence, be more integrated into the community and find it a very worthwhile volunteering opportunity. It is a win-win situation.”
In 2025, BITCI celebrates its 25th anniversary and as leaders in sustainability and social inclusion, the partnering of corporate volunteers with local DEIS schools with the intent of addressing education disadvantage and achieve greater equity of opportunities remain vital to BITCI’s social inclusion objectives.
Sinead Pigott, Glounaguillagh National School Principal, said “Student well-being and development are at the heart of our school’s approach. Our focus on social-emotional learning helps students build confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills. So being involved in the Time to Read and Time to Count programmes complements this perfectly. We are deeply grateful to Fexco and BITCI for their continued support and commitment over the past decade. Their partnership has enriched the lives of our students and strengthened our ties with the wider community—an impact we truly value and appreciate.”
Paula O’Sullivan, Fexco, Group HR Director said ““As we celebrate a decade of partnership with Glounaguillagh National School and BITCI through the Time to Count and Time to Read programmes, we are immensely proud of the positive impact we’ve made together for these students. Fexco’s ethos is to positively impact the communities we serve. This collaboration has not only enriched the educational experiences of countless students but has also strengthened our community bonds for decades to come. Our employees have thoroughly enjoyed participating in this programme, finding it both rewarding and inspiring. We look forward to continuing this journey, fostering growth, and creating opportunities for the next generation.”
The Time to Read programme is funded by An Post and Community Foundation Ireland.
ENDS
