Terry Waite has become the latest high profile figure to become an Honorary Patron of the KM Charity Team.

The former special envoy of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, traveled to Lebanon in the 1980’s to try and secure the release of four hostages including journalist John McCarthy, but was himself kidnapped and held hostage for almost five years.

The educational charity’s literacy initiatives have attracted the attentions of Mr Waite. The charity works with 26,000 children and families at 90 primary schools encouraging to boost reading through Buster’s Book Club. It also works with vulnerable groups including the homeless, teenagers not in education or training, as well as parents where English is an additional language.

Mr Waite said: “Reading can open up a whole new world for people and that is one reason why I am delighted to become a patron of the KM Charity Team. A good book can inform, educate and amuse and what could be better than a charity that encourages these things.”

Simon Dolby said: “Terry’s decision to become an Honorary Patron is fantastic news for our charity. His warmth and interest in our work is very heartening and the charity is extremely proud he has agreed to be associated with us.”

Organisations supporting the KM Charity Team’s education work include: Kent County Council, Medway Council, 3Rs teacher recruitment agency, Kent Reliance, Leeds Castle, Eurostar, Golding Homes, Orbit, Specsavers, Bel UK and the London Borough of Bexley.

Mr Waite is president of Emmaus UK, a charity for formerly homeless people, which has a branch in Dover.

To find out more about the home reading initiative Buster’s Book Club, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.