BBC RaW (Reading and Writing) is the BBCs biggest
ever literacy campaign. To find out more visit www.bbc.co.uk/raw
Practitioners can join the RaW mailing list by visiting
www.bbc.co.uk/raw/.
For enquiries, contact the team on 020 8752 6777 or email
raw@bbc.co.uk.
The public can request a free magazine, get advice
on improving their reading and writing skills, or find out
where their local RaW centre is by calling 08000 150 950.
The website www.bbc.co.uk/raw
allows you to play games and quizzes, test your skills.
Introduction to RaW
BBC RaW and libraries
BBC RaW - Reading More
and Writing Better with the BBC
The BBC has launched its biggest adult literacy campaign
ever - RaW - a fresh, entertainment-led, three-year drive
to engage the passions and interests of the nation. With
activity throughout the UK and broadcast content on every
platform, RaW is a dynamic campaign that aims to engage
the nation's 12 million intermediate readers.
Linking with major partners and drawing on the UK's favourite
drama and entertainment programmes, RaW will encourage a
diverse audience to enjoy developing their reading and writing
skills, through a series of informal, entertaining learning
opportunities.
Informal and fun
RaW is not about signing up for courses or going back to
school. Instead, the BBC has devised a whole range of resources
and activities that people can enjoy, including reading
a specially produced magazine with celebrity gossip, quizzes
and features; taking part in a RaW Quiz in a local pub,
which will feature rounds on sports, music and horoscopes;
and enjoying a special edition interactive EastEnders DVD
that takes you behind the scenes on the set. RaW Online
is a magazine-style site that changes weekly, with activities,
quizzes, personality and learning questionnaires, and RaW
Phone coaching puts individuals in touch with a telephone
'coach' who will support them to meet practical objectives.
How can I get involved?
The BBC is creating a network of RaW centres, organisations
working informally in their communities and including pubs,
sports clubs, libraries, prisons, community centres and
workplace learning centres. Each centre will be encouraging
reading and writing for enjoyment, offering informal learning
opportunities for adults in collaboration with the BBC.
Formal learning may, or may not, be one of the outcomes
of this experience.
RaW centres can pick and choose how they would like to
be involved in RaW, for example: making BBC free resources
available; providing access to web-based, downloadable materials;
hosting RaW Quizzes,
running RaW Reads - specialist reading groups targeted towards
people's passions; taking part in RaW Swaps - innovative
book sharing ideas.
The RaW Promotional DVD
A promotional film, presented by Natasha Kaplinsky and a
number of well known TV personalities, will give you further
details about how you can get involved with RaW. It's available
to view online at www.bbc.co.uk/raw/campaign
or you can order your own copy when you sign up to become
a RaW centre.
RaW centre regional events
From September, the BBC will be holding RaW briefing sessions
around the country so that community groups and interested
parties in each location can find out more, take a first
look at the resources available, question the RaW team and
sign up to the campaign. Details of the events are available
on the RaW website.
You can sign up online to become a RaW centre, at www.bbc.co.uk/raw/campaign.
If you would prefer to register on a paper registration
form, call 08000 567 140.
Please note that libraries do not need to sign up to get
involved in RaW. Every library authority will be sent sign-up
documentation as a separate procedure. More
information on libraries' involvement
RaW data
This data is taken from the evaluation of the first two years of the project:
- 2 million people so far have taken the first steps or become fully engaged with the project
- there are 6,500 RaW centres - libraries, prisons, pubs, workplaces - around the UK
- close to 1 million magazines have been distributed
- the website attracts 35,000 visitors a month
- 280,000 Max and Lara storybooks have been distributed to libraries to be given away or loaned
- 926,000 learners across the UK have downloaded RaW quizzes from the website.