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13.5.02 news release
John, a RIF ambassador, will be demonstrating his basketball skills and
reading with year seven students (11 and 12 year olds) at five secondary
schools in the Wythenshawe area. Thanks to funding from WyEAZs, the schools
are participating in a RIF project that promotes the fun and fundamentals
of reading by providing opportunities for young people to choose and keep
free books. The aim of the project is to encourage reading for pleasure
and to promote the benefits of book ownership.
John, who currently appears on a nation-wide poster campaign for RIF, is
a passionate supporter of literacy initiatives. "You can't go wrong by encouraging
people to read," he says. "It's one of the few things you can't overkill."
John is a mentor to two teenage boys and is currently studying for a PhD
in child clinical psychology so that he can work with disaffected young
people once he retires as a professional player.
"John is an exceptional role model," said Lis Coulthard, Director of Reading
Is Fundamental, UK. "His interest in the personal development of young people
and the issues that they face, together with his love of reading, makes
him an ideal ambassador for RIF."
"Leading sports people like John Amaechi are a role model to many young
people. By taking part in the RIF initiative, John is demonstrating that
education matters and I hope that many of the Wythenshawe children he works
with will come to see him as an example," said Ger Graus, Director of WyEAZs.
-ends-
Notes to editors:
1. John Amaechi was brought up in Manchester and attended Stockport Grammar
School. He began his career as a promising rugby player but changed sports
after a chance encounter with a basketball court. After attending Penn State
University he was drafted into the Cleveland Cavaliers and became the first
British player to start an NBA game. In 1999 he joined the Orlando Magic
and entered the NBA Hall of Fame by scoring the first basket of the new
millennium. He currently plays for the Utah Jazz. Off court, John listens
to music, reads and writes poetry. He is also actively involved in the Amaechi
Centre in Trafford, Manchester, an indoor facility that enables local children
and young people to receive professional basketball coaching.
2. Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF) is a non-profit initiative of the National
Literacy Trust. Established in 1996, RIF has provided more than 360,000
free books to 120,000 children and young people and currently operates 340
projects across the UK. In each project, children choose three free books
a year to keep at special book distributions involving families and local
volunteers. They also receive a book box, bookmarks, bookplates and badges.
The distributions are accompanied by fun, high-quality activities (often
involving authors, poets, storytellers and illustrators) that emphasise
the pleasures of reading. The project in Wythenshawe is sponsored by Wythenshawe
Education Action Zones.
3. Wythenshawe Education Action Zones in south Manchester are unique as
they consist of two EAZs led by one management team. Education Action Zones
are viewed as a leading proponent of private and public sector partnership.
The two WyEAZs consist of 29 schools with over 10,000 pupils.
4. Schedule for school visits (press welcome):
9:30 - 10am Roundwood High School, Roundwood Road, Northenden, Manchester,
M2D 4WZ, contact Joanna Dowey, 0161 998 4138
10:30 - 11am Piper Hill High School, 200 Yew Tree Lane, Northern Moor, Manchester,
M23 0FF, contact Jane Lilleyman, 0161 998 4068
11:30 - 12pm St. Paul's RC High School, Firbank Road, Newall Green, Wythenshawe,
M23 2YS, contact Maria Evans, 0161 437 5841
12:30 - 1pm Newall Green High School, Greenbrow Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester,
M23 2SX, contact Andrea Taylor, 0161 499 3878
2 - 2:30p Parklands High School, Simonsway, Wythenshawe, M22 9RH, contact
B. Spedding, 0161 499 2726
3:30 - 4pm Newall Green High School, as above
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