 |
Peer group initiatives
Scotland Reads (16 to 25-year-olds)
Young Voices (11 to 18-year-olds)
HeadSpace (teenagers)
Buddying - from the Reading Connects initiative
Adults volunteering with children
Right to Read (volunteers from business becoming reading partners)
Time for Children (children in care)
Scotland Reads was developed by the Scottish Executive education department, Learning and Teaching Scotland and ProjectScotland, and came out of the success of the Home Reading Initative. It encourages young people aged 16 to 25 in five Scottish local authorities to volunteer to help children to develop their reading skills. The pilots began in January 2006 and is being monitored by Professor Keith Topping of the University of Dundee, who will measure the success of the scheme and advise on it's national role out. For more information visit www.ltscotland.org.uk/literacy/aboutliteracy/scotlandreads.asp
Young Voices is a CSV consulting project established with support from the Big Lottery Young People's Fund to actively involve young people as volunteers within three public libraries, in
Widnes, Manchester and Oldham. It aims to encourage more young people to use the library, to volunteer in the library and to learn new skills. The project started in April 2007 and runs until 2010. Every young person aged 11 to18 years from the three areas can volunteer with the project.
Young volunteers are trained in youth leadership so that they have the skills to run the project themselves, and decide which activities they do. They are forming a steering group in each library and in the initiatives second year will have control of the activities budget. The young people are encouraged to work with library staff to make the libraries attractive to more young people.
A project officer at each library directly supports the young people, helping them to decide which projects they would like to do, helping them to run their steering group meetings, and supporting them to recruit new members. To find out more, visit www.csv.org.uk/Volunteer/Part-time/Lending+Time/Young+Voices.htm
HeadSpace is a scheme run by The Reading Agency aimed at young people of secondary school age. The original idea came from a group of young people in Derbyshire known as the Book Pushers, who wanted a new, laid-back environment in which to read and enjoy books and texts in general.
A HeadSpace is a library but not as you know it. It is a place where young people can pick a book and a snack served by a Book Waiter. A Book Waiter is a local young person who can tell you about the hottest new books, cds, games and dvds that you can borrow while they serve you your order. For more information visit, www.readingagency.org.uk/young/headspace/
Right to Read is a national campaign to promote the importance of literacy and seeks to engage volunteers from business to become reading partners with 7 to 11-year-old, primary school children. After an initial two-hour training session, one to one reading generally takes one hour a week during the school term. It is a partnership between TimeBank and Business in the Community. For more information, visit www.timebank.org.uk/righttoread/index.html
Time for Children is a programme being run in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the West Midlands. TimeBank has partnered with The National Literacy Association, The Who Cares? Trust and Volunteer Reading Help to encourage and support children in public care in their reading and learning. For more information, visit www.timebank.org.uk/tfc/
| |
80px.gif)
