Transcript Running the Six Book Challenge

Running the Six Book Challenge 2015
The Reading Agency
• Independent national charity
• Mission to give everyone an equal chance in life by
helping people become confident and enthusiastic
readers. Because everything changes when we read.
• Formal partnership with public libraries
• Work with broadcasters, publishers, government at
national level
• Work with libraries, schools, colleges, prisons,
workplaces at local level
Our vision for the Six Book Challenge
• 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 is it needed?
• 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
National agendas in 2014
• Business, Skills & Innovation Committee Report on
Adult Literacy & Numeracy asking for better funded,
more flexible and higher profile approach
• Read On Get On – 10-year coalition initiated by Save
the Children to ensure every child reading ‘well’ by
age of 11 – importance of family dimension
• National Literacy Trust manifesto
• Reading for pleasure campaign supported by trade
publishers working with voluntary sector
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
• R & D – reading for pleasure at Entry Level, potential
for using digital games
• Reading Groups for Everyone, Mood-Boosting Books
• World Book Night
• 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
Benefits for participants
• Increase in confidence about reading
• Increase in skills, eg vocabulary, knowledge,
writing, speaking and listening
• Increase in enjoyment in reading
• Increase in sense of well-being, belonging,
identity as a reader
• Tangible record of achievement – certificate,
CV, testimony
Benefits for organisers
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‘Off the peg’ nationally recognised programme
Practical framework for encouraging reading
Simple tool for partnership working
Raises awareness of library offer
Creates a buzz around reading for people of all
abilities
• Leads on to other activity, eg reading groups,
volunteering, support for other family members
Six Book Challenge 2008-14
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
Public libraries
8000
Colleges
6000
Prisons
4000
Workplaces
2000
0
2008
total
7000
2009
total
9000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
total
total
total
total
total
13,500 18,000 23,500 35,000 40,000
2014 headline results
• 40,000 people registered
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12,500 through public libraries and partners
17,000 in FE and sixth form colleges
9000 in prisons
1500 in workplaces
• Nearly 90% of survey respondents said they
felt more confident about reading
• 79 organisations achieved more than
50 completers
Event at No. 11 Downing Street on
International Literacy Day 8 September where
goal of 50,000 participants set for 2015.
“I have worked
with the Six Book
Challenge since it
started and I feel
as if I am really
making a
difference to
people’s lives.”
Janet Puzylo,
Development
Librarian Reading, LiveWire
Warrington
Senior management support
• “This is an ideal way for libraries to support the adult
literacy agenda.”
Ciara Eastell, President, Society of Chief Librarians
and Head of Devon Libraries
• "It is a wonderful way to encourage learners to pick
up a book, and we have seen attitudes towards
reading change and confidence amongst participants
soar." Jack Carney, Principal of The Manchester
College, which achieved 510 completers in 2014
• “The Six Book Challenge is part of my vision of
how rehabilitation works in this prison.”
Lynn Saunders, Governor, HMP Whatton
• “Through supporting the Six Book Challenge,
Tesco has a role to play in getting more people
to feel the inner confidence that reading can
give them.”
John McAlpine, Operations Director, Tesco
Six Book Challenge 2015
• Packs to promote the Challenge and run it with 50
people available from September 2015
• Discounts for multiple packs and reading diaries
• Bilingual materials for Wales
• Prize draws for completers and for colleges, prisons
and workplaces – author visits
• Martina Cole, Andy McNab and Adele Parks continue
as Ambassadors
• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme
• www.readingagency.org.uk/sixbookchallenge
Partnership working
• Public library services – over 60% involvement in 2014
• Adult & community learning – strong SBC library authorities
show engagement of high numbers
• Workplaces - engagement by TUC unionlearn, individual
unions (Usdaw, UNISON) and some employers (Army)
• Prison education – around 100 prisons and YOIs
• FE college libraries – over 110 colleges took part in 2014 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
NEW Six Book Challenge website
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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 500 items (pre-Entry – Level 2)
• Printed books PLUS ebooks, audio, large print,
newspapers, digital games
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 (sales enquiries)
[email protected]
• 0207 324 2547