Transcript Running the Six Book Challenge

Six Book Challenge 2014
Reading Agency vision
• That people’s attitudes to reading, both in
print and online, are changed by taking part
in the Six Book Challenge, whether or not
they are already readers.
• Priority audience – those who struggle with
the written word
• Also powerful for lapsed readers
Why?
• 5.1 million adults of working age are STILL at
the level expected of an 11 year old (moved
from 16% to 15% since 2003)
• 14.8 million adults would not achieve a GCSE
at A* - C grade (improved from 39.5% to
28.5% since 2003)
2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline findings
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dec 2011
• 16-24 year olds in England are rated 22nd our
of 24 countries for literacy.
• They have slightly worse skills than people
aged between 55 and 65.
Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC), OECD, Oct 2013
Impact evidence
“The findings from practitioners and learners who took
part in this project demonstrate that reading for
pleasure supports the development of increased
enjoyment, self-confidence, motivation and the
acquisition of functional literacy skills.”
Sue Oakey, Practitioners leading research:
‘Weaving reading for pleasure into the Skills for Life
adult literacy curriculum’ (NRDC 2007)
Creating a virtuous circle
Learners
want to
read more
Learners
engaged in
(more) text
Learners
improve
skills
Learners
enjoy
reading
Learners
practise
skills
Support from The Reading Agency
• Advocacy for libraries’ role
• Links with national initiatives eg
Quick Reads, BBC campaigns, World Book Night
• R & D – reading for pleasure at Entry Level, potential
for using digital games
• Reading Groups for Everyone, Mood-Boosting Books
• Practical schemes – Six Book Challenge
What is the Six Book Challenge?
• An invitation to read six books or other ‘materials’
and record reading in a diary
• Library support for choosing what to read
• Creative activity such as reading groups
• Incentives to increase retention
• Certificate for those who read six books
(participation certificate for less)
• A proven way of engaging and motivating adults to
improve their literacy skills
Six Book Challenge 2008-13
16000
14000
12000
10000
Public libraries
8000
Colleges
6000
Prisons
4000
Workplaces
2000
0
2008
total
7000
2009
total
9000
2010
total
13,500
2011
total
18,000
2012
total
23,500
2013
total
35,000
2013 headline results
• 35,000 people registered
•
•
•
•
13,000 through public libraries and partners
13,500 in FE and sixth form colleges
7000 in prisons
1500 in workplaces
• 90% of survey respondents said they felt
more confident about reading
• 65 organisations achieved more than
50 completers
Adult and community learning
“I feel like I have
got through a
barrier. Now when
I read a book, I can
concentrate. I owe
a lot to my tutor.
Reading has given
me something to
focus on, and I
really enjoy it.”
Linda Shaw, 61,
WEA learner in
Kirklees
Prisons
• “I wouldn’t have read any books, let alone six,
without the Challenge.” Dylan, HMYOI Feltham
• “The Six Book Challenge is our main source for
getting people into education.”
Pat Gardener, Life Skills and Employment Manager,
HMYOI Deerbolt, where the prison librarian achieved
115 completers in 2013
Prisons
• “Seven out of ten of our prisoners say they have a learning or
literacy problem. We are convinced that doing the Six Book
Challenge encourages them to come into our library and use
the facilities and get back into education. And we all believe
that not only does it assist prisoners whilst they are in prison,
but that when they leave, it has a positive effect on an exprisoner’s ability to remain an ex-prisoner, and not re-offend.”
Nick Walmsley, Head of Corruption Prevention & Counter
Terrorism, HMP Pentonville, which achieved a gold award
with 236 completers in 2013
Workplaces
UNISON learning rep
Andrew Jennison has
led the Six Book
Challenge at De
Monfort University in
Leicester for three
years, achieving a gold
award with 167
completers in 2013
including porters,
administrators, cleaners
and security staff.
Colleges
20-year-old Ataullah
Omar from
Aghanistan had
never read a book in
his native language
before completing
the Challenge at
Northampton
College which was
the top performer
in 2013 with 283
completers.
• "We are delighted to see a 12% increase in our
A*- C grades in GCSE English results – surely proof
that participation in the Six Book Challenge really can
help to develop skills as well as enjoyment."
John Bexson, Deputy Principal, Northampton
College, where the Challenge was rolled out to all
Functional Skills and GCSE English students in 2013
Colleges
“Reading takes me away to
other places. If I am feeling
bored or down, it gives me a
break from what's going on
in my head and lets me
relax. It helps me with my
studying too. Before I read
regularly, I used to just skim
over things.”
Catriona Tutt, who
completed the Challenge
while on a 'Stepping
Stones' course at Fife
College which had 151
completers in 2013.
Colleges
"I will keep on reading for
pleasure: I've just ordered
another new book to read.
Reading comes into everything
you do in life - you aren't going
to get very far without it.”
Declan Lapham, 22, a building
services student who started
his Challenge with newspaper
articles about sport at Coleg
Sir Gâr in Carmarthenshire
which achieved a bronze
award for 75 completers in
2013.
Partnership working
• Public library services – 66% involvement in 2013
• Adult & community learning – strong SBC library authorities
show engagement of high numbers
• Workplaces - engagement by TUC unionlearn, individual
unions and some employers
• Prison education – around 100 prisons and YOIs
• FE college libraries – over 100 colleges took part in 2013
mainly using their own libraries/learning resource centres
• Family learning, children’s centres – libraries running the Six
Book Challenge alongside the Summer Reading Challenge
• Health – mental health groups, NHS Trusts
• Sport – Rugby League World Cup 2013
Six Book Challenge 2014
Six Book Challenge 2014
• Support from Martina Cole as Ambassador
• Packs to promote the Challenge and run it with 50
people January – June 2014
• Discounts for multiple packs and reading diaries
• Bilingual materials for Wales
• Prize draws for completers
• Prize draws for colleges, prisons and workplaces –
author visits
• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme
NEW Six Book Challenge website
•
•
•
•
www.readingagency.org.uk/sixbookchallenge
Sponsored by mobile company Three
Adding a digital dimension to the Six Book Challenge
Participants can create a an online profile, log, rate
and review what they read
• Search for next read in our unique Find a read
database – nearly 700 items (pre-Entry – Level 2)
• Printed books PLUS ebooks, audio, large print,
newspapers, digital games
Six Book Challenge
projected totals 2014-17
25,000
20,000
15,000
Public libraries
Colleges
10,000
Prisons
Workplaces
5,000
0
2013 total 2014 total 2015 total 2016 total 2017 total
35,000
37,750
40,000
45,000
50,000
National contacts
• Genevieve Clarke (general)
[email protected]
0871 750 2104 / 07500 010 620
• David Kendall (prisons and workplaces)
[email protected]
01225 862351 / 07814 060572
• Daniel Colagiovanni (purchase enquiries)
[email protected]
0207 324 2547