New story trail takes Doncaster families on a whistle-stop tour of city’s history

A free interactive Story Quest created by the National Literacy Trust and LNER has launched in Doncaster ahead of October half-term as part of the National Year of Reading.

Doncaster families are invited to embark on a new time-travelling adventure that supports children’s reading and writing for pleasure, whilst engaging them with their city’s rich heritage.

“Don and Cassie’s Excellent Doncaster Adventure” has been created by the National Literacy Trust in Doncaster in partnership with LNER and launched on Friday 16 October.

On Friday morning, local primary school pupils from Atlas Academy were invited to get a first taste of the quest. Pupils followed the adventures of our fictional heroes, Don and Cassie, solving clues to unlock Doncaster’s history.

Story Quests are a fun, accessible way to support children’s reading and writing, making literacy relevant and engaging through a bespoke story written about Doncaster.

As well as connecting children more to their city, the trail develops reading comprehension, vocabulary, creativity and storytelling skills, while building confidence and encouraging a lifelong love of reading and writing.

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This Story Quest is part of an ongoing partnership between the National Literacy Trust and LNER. Doncaster is the second place to host a trail that celebrates the significance of the city’s history and its stories, after Bradford launched one last year.

Phil Sheppard, Manager for National Literacy Trust in Doncaster, said: “Doncaster has a long, fascinating history, making it the perfect setting for this story trail. Children read things that feel relevant and meaningful to them, so for those that call Doncaster home, what better way to connect with and get excited about the city?

"We know that reading for pleasure is associated with better outcomes, and equips young people with skills that support them throughout their life. Activities like this can make a real difference, helping build confidence, support wellbeing, and improving literacy.

Rachael Wilson, Community Investment Manager at LNER, said: “The National Year of Reading has been a unique opportunity for LNER to champion the value of reading for the communities that we serve. It has been a pleasure to work with the National Literacy Trust to create another Story Quest, this time in Doncaster, a city with a proud heritage. We were delighted to welcome pupils from Atlas Academy to take part in the very first quest.”