The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge is once again being backed by local MP, David Rutley. The campaign encourages primary school children across England and Wales to keep reading over the summer holidays, helping them to build confidence and independent reading, and preventing a dip in their reading levels during the break from school.
At a recent event in Parliament to mark the launch of the campaign, David met with representatives from the team behind this positive initiative, to learn more about this year’s challenge and the benefits to young people taking part in it. This year's theme is ‘Space Chase’, inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, and David had the opportunity to browse the books young people are being encouraged to read if they take part in the challenge. These include books such as ‘Jake In Space’ and ‘Zoo On The Moon’.
To get involved in the challenge, all children have to do is to head to their local library, where they will be given a special mission folder to keep track of the six library books that they will be reading over the summer as part of the Challenge. There are also lots of collectible incentives to help motivate them in their reading mission, including stickers. Children can use the special website spacechase.org.uk to create a profile, chat about books, and get help on what to read next, via the digital Book Sorter which already offers over 900,000 peer-to-peer children’s book recommendations in child-friendly categories.
Research consistently shows that reading for pleasure is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background, and that children who use libraries are twice as likely to be above average readers. Last year around 700,000 children took part borrowing, reading and talking about their favourite books.
The Summer Reading Challenge reaches children and young people of all ages. For pre-schoolers there is a mini challenge, while young people (aged 13 to 24) can volunteer and support younger children taking part. Volunteering provides a quality workplace experience for young people in libraries, inspires them to think about their future career and increases their employability as they gain useful life skills and confidence. Last year over 6,790 young people across the UK volunteered.
Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency said: “At The Reading Agency, we tackle life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading. We know from our research that families and children love taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, and we are proud to have been running the Challenge for twenty years this year. The space theme has been chosen to coincide with the 5Oth anniversary of the first moon landing. Last summer, children worked with illustrator Adam Stower to come up with ideas for the Space Chase adventure, and we hope the Challenge will inspire all children to use their local library and to read lots of great books throughout the summer and beyond."
Speaking after the event, David said: “I hope parents, grandparents and carers in Macclesfield will take their children to the library over the summer to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s free, inclusive and, most importantly, makes reading fun. Last year 6,535 children in Cheshire East took part, and I strongly hope many more local children will participate this year, helping to build their confidence and knowledge, demonstrating what a valuable asset local libraries are to our local communities.”