An accountancy firm is swapping numbers for the written word in pursuit of life-shaping educational projects.

McCabe Ford Williams is one of the judges who will meet tomorrow to select the winners of the Kent Literacy Awards.

They will be celebrating the best initiatives developing children’s reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in Kent, Medway, Bromely and Bexley.

Karen Gray, marketing manager at the firm, said: “This is the third year we’re sponsoring the awards.

“As accountants, that might surprise people because we’re known more for numeracy.

“But literacy is equally important to us because we need to communicate with clients and often explain more complicated figures and facts in plain English.”

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the literacy awards are for primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley.

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “I wish Karen and all of the other judges the best of the luck for tomorrow.

“With so many fantastic nominations submitted, choosing winners will be an extremely difficult task.

“But it’s so important that successful projects get the publicity that awards like these can provide, so other schools and colleges can replicate best practice with their pupils and student.”

In addition to McCabe Ford Williams, the awards’ judges are Coram Beanstalk, the Crown Foundation, Golding Vision, Tribeca, the University of Kent, Reed Education, The Education People and KM Facilities Management.

Watch a video in which Karen Gray speaks about the awards here: