Big Thank You for Young Summer Reading Challenge Volunteers

Summer Reading Challenge

READING’S Mayor will be thanking a group of young volunteers who helped support Reading Library’s Summer Reading Challenge this year, at a special presentation ceremony on Tuesday 18th September.

The library recruited 31 volunteers aged 14-18 and provided them with training, guidance and support. The young volunteers clocked up over 400 hours between them over the summer holidays, helping local children to enjoy the 2018 Mischief Makers Beano Themed Summer Reading Challenge. The free yearly reading challenge aims to get more children reading over the summer period – a time when children’s literacy skills traditionally dip. Children are challenged to borrow and read at least six books over the holidays, and are rewarded for each book read. Various linked activities and events took place over the summer across Reading libraries. The teenage volunteers worked across all local library branches, encouraging children with their reading and helping to run events and craft activities. They talked with, and listened to, children about the books they had been reading and suggested other things they may like to read, as well as helping children register for the reading challenge and handing out reading rewards. On Tuesday, the mayor will present each volunteer with a Reading Agency Certificate. The ceremony will take place in the children’s section of Central Library, at 5pm, with a number of the young volunteers and their families attending. The presentation will be followed by light refreshments.

Reading’s Mayor, Cllr Debs Edwards, said:

“Every one of our young volunteers made an extremely valuable contribution to the Summer Reading Challenge and has helped encourage local children to develop a love of reading, which is so important. I am delighted to thank them individually and give them the recognition they deserve for their hard work this summer. They will have each gained some great experience through this project which will be valuable to them in the future and might inspire them to pursue a career in the library service.”

Cllr Sarah Hacker, Reading’s Lead Member for Culture, Heritage and Recreation, said:

“This year’s Summer Reading Challenge was another great success, providing a good incentive to get children into their local library and keep their reading up over the summer holiday. We are very grateful to all our fabulous young volunteers, who contributed to the success of the reading challenge.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Photo opportunity:

The media are invited to a photo opportunity at Reading Central Library with the mayor and the volunteers at 5pm on Tuesday 18th September.

Summer Reading Challenge 2018

Reading Library encouraged children to sign up to read six books as part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2018, which started on Saturday 14th July. This year’s theme was Mischief Makers – based on the Beano. Children could drop in to their local library and pick up a collector’s folder, set off on a hunt for Beano town’s famous buried treasure and then come back for stickers, a foldup game and Dennis themed wristband. Successful children were presented with a special Mischief Makers certificate and a medal. The event has been running since 1999, and in Reading thousands of children sign up every year.

About the National Summer Reading Challenge

The Reading Agency runs the annual Summer Reading Challenge in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians. This national reading for pleasure programme is now in its 20th year. Children can find new books to read, win some great book prizes and share recommendations with other readers on: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk The Summer Reading Challenge reaches children and young people of all ages. For the pre-schoolers there is a mini-challenge while young people can volunteer and support younger children taking part, as part of The Reading Agency’s Reading Hack programme. 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 7,500 young people across the UK volunteered: readinghack.org.uk