What is Reading for Life?
The National Year of Reading in 2008 brought together organisations with lead partners the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, to improve the reading opportunities and outcomes of people in most need. This work needs to continue.
These organisations, all of which believe that reading sits at the heart of social justice, are committed to promoting reading to those audiences who can enjoy improved outcomes as a result. They will build on the achievements, networks and new ways of working of the National Year of Reading.
They will do this by communicating the importance of reading, and through specific endeavours that reach our target audiences, and by supporting local services working with them.
This on-going commitment and campaign will be called Reading for Life.
Read more about Reading for Life
How is Booktrust involved?
Booktrust is an independent national charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and cultures to engage with books and the written word.
As the largest literature charity in the UK, we reach more than 3.5 million children and their families each year through our book gifting programmes. We also run a wide range of campaigns and prizes which, together with our national book gifting programmes, seek to ensure that every child and adult has the opportunity to experience the delight and power of books and the written word, regardless of poverty, culture, language, literacy skills or disability.
Booktrust has pledged support for Reading for Life, the legacy campaign of the NYR. Our national programmes are agents for change and social justice, and already support many of the groups targeted by the Reading for Life campaign.
All children need opportunities to experience the pleasures of reading books and sharing stories. Books and narrative inform and satisfy our curiosity, entertain us and provide escape into an imaginative world. In essence, nurturing a love of books throughout childhood benefits children educationally, socially, emotionally, culturally, economically and is an important step in helping them to realise their potential.
Booktrust’s bookgifting programmes
Booktrust’s bookgifting programmes encourage a love of books among children at important stages of their lives. Many of the resources are provided in dual language format and the universal nature of the programmes means that children are neither stigmatised nor left out, and that all gain from the experience of receiving a gift of free books.
Bookstart’s three book offers – at nine months, 18 months and at pre-school age – support parents so that every home can be a place where books are valued and learning is fun. Packs are also available for children with visual and hearing impairments, and advice about sharing books with disabled children is provided for families.
Booktime reminds families of the importance and pleasure of continuing to share books with children by offering a further book pack to children across the UK shortly after they first start primary school. Children are encouraged to take these packs home to share with their parents as well as their peers.
Booked Up goes on to offer a choice of a book to all 11-year-olds in England in their first term at secondary school, historically a time when leisure reading declines in favour of other activities.
The Letterbox Club is a bookgifting programme targeted at improving the educational outlook of children aged 7-11 in foster care. Following a successful two year pilot in 52 authorities, the Letterbox Club is now available to all authorities on a subscription basis.
Strategic support for reading and literacy
Booktrust’s national and regional teams can provide advice and support for local authorities interested in developing reading and literacy strategies.
For more information about Booktrust's bookgifting programmes, contact Rosemary Clarke, Director of Bookgifting and Bookstart
