General information -
Young people and literacy
In early 2007, The Reading Agency was granted £575,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to set up 'Book Bars' in libraries across four English regions. Book bars are cafe-style spaces that provide young people with a place to go and encourage them to make use of library facilities. Each book bar will have its own team of "waiters", volunteers who go round offering drinks and a choice of books. In September 2007 Book bars became known as Haedspace.
Headspace will be set up between April 2007 and March 2010 in:
East Midlands
Buxton Library, Derbyshire
Corby Library, Northamptonshire
Worksop Library, Nottinghamshire
North West
Halewood Library, Knowsley
Halton Lea Library, Halton
Haslingden Library, Lancashire
High Street Library, Bolton
Longsight Library, Manchester
South East
Burgess Road Library, Southampton
Cafe IT, Folkestone
Crawley Library, West Sussex
High Wycombe Library, Buckinghamshire
South West
Barcode Youth Cafe, North Somerset
Central Library, Swindon
Efford Library, Plymouth
Hartcliffe Library, Bristol
Lyme Regis Library, Dorset
Melksham Library, Wiltshire
Padstowe Library, Cornwall
The Poetry Book Society is relaunching its Children's Poetry
Bookshelf, a book club for children aged seven to 11. The
club aims to make the best children's poetry available to
young readers in an exciting and enjoyable way. Support
is provided for teachers and librarians, including activity
sheets and posters, to encourage children to read and enjoy
poetry. A new website provides fun activities for children
and suggestions for adults on the best poetry to buy for
children. Visit www.childrenspoetrybookshelf.co.uk
or contact the Poetry Book Society on 020 7833 9247.
Seven Stories, a centre that collects, explores and celebrates
children's books, was opened in August 2005 by the current
children's laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, and illustrator
Nick Sharratt.
The project was launched with a £20 bank account 10
years ago by Elizabeth Hammill, then working in the children's
books department in Waterstone's, Newcastle, and Mary Briggs,
an assistant director of education in the city.
The collection already includes many manuscripts by Philip
Pullman (but not the Dark Materials trilogy), illustrations
by Shirley Hughes, and the original artwork for Roald Dahl's
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Noel Streatfeild's
Ballet Shoes.
The centre also owns 10,000 items, including letters and
first editions, left by Kaye Webb, founder of Puffin Books,
and all the manuscripts of Geordie writer Robert Westall,
each novel handwritten in a notebook.
On the seven floors are a bookshop, cafe, a basement engine
room for hands-on activities, an attic where writers and
artists will discuss their work, and galleries where the
first exhibition, Incredible Journeys, features some of
the best-loved books of the last 70 years.
Ms Briggs, now chief executive, said: "We are trying
to connect people with children's books because they can
have a tremendous impact on their lives. They are so important
in the intellectual and emotional development of children
- and adults too."
www.sevenstories.org.uk
(Guardian, 15 August 2005)
The Story Museum is an Oxford-based project to inspire children
about books and stories of all kinds. It organises exciting
events for families and schools and plans to build an amazing
museum in Oxford, a city famous for its books and stories.
Visit
www.storymuseum.org.uk
to find out more.
In 2004 an unknown show brazenly titled 'The Rap Canterbury
Tales' arrived at the Edinburgh Festival to brave the hordes.
Created by Baba Brinkman this one-man performance boldly
claimed to re-create Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century masterpiece,
featuring The Miller, The Pardoner and The Wife of Bath,
in today's rap slang.
'The Rap Canterbury Tales' was selling out every day, and
extra shows had to be added to handle the demand. It had
become on of the genuine must-see performances of the Fringe.
It was also nominated for a Water Tap Award for theatrical
excellence. Following his month-long triumph in Edinburgh,
Baba Brinkman was recruited by Cambridge University's prestigious
English Literature Department, which is now sponsoring presentations
in high schools around England.
'The Rap Canterbury Tales' is returning to Edinburgh this
year.
For more information, visit www.babasword.com
(Press release, 20 June 2005)
Read an article by Baba Brinkman
on rappers and education
This scheme was set up by the Norwood Achievement Partnership,
to encourage girls of 12 and 13 with a reading age of 9
or below. They are trained in the mechanics of teaching
basic reading skills, then visit the local St. Luke's Primary
School, where they mentor five and six-year-olds. The mentors
attend one lunch-time a week, alternating between visiting
St. Lukes, and staying to be taught new words and phrases,
play word games and read stories. The average after-project
improvement in reading age is one year and two months; before
the project began, it was just two and a half months. Emma
Ferry of Norwood School explains: "The children do
not feel that they are on the scheme because they have low
reading ability…they are pleased to have some responsibility
in passing on what they have learnt to other children."
Supported by the Children's Fund, Calderdale appointed
teacher Sally Taylder to launch their Book to Basics literacy
project. She has organised five different clubs so far,
most recently centered around the 'Coiners', seventeenth
century locals who counterfeited coins. Six 10 to 14-year-olds
were chosen from different schools and care homes, and spent
two hours a week producing a script in pairs. The club was
then opened up to eight to 13-year-olds, who performed the
play or worked behind the scenes. Taylder says, "The
trick is to use reading and writing without them realising
that we're getting them back to work."
The result of a collaboration between the Newham Music Trust
and Reading Is Fundamental, The Newham Project aim is to help
children who might not usually enjoy reading, by using music
to bring stories alive. The scheme has reached more than 270
seven to 10-year-olds, giving three books to each child, and
staging three music sessions per year. Teacher Michelle Loughery
explains: "Children may be able to read a word, but may
not know its meaning in terms of dramatic events, so musical
interpretation helps."
When Jean Wolstenholme, manager of young people's services
for Lancashire County Library Service, visited Lancashire's
18 residential care homes, she found that many of them had
no books at all. Eighteen months later, more than half the
homes have a selection of 90 books each, and visits from librarian
Paul Robinson twice a week. Robinson carries out one-to-one
reading, holds quizzes and 'test the librarian', where the
children can challenge Robinson to find a book they'll enjoy.
Wolstenholme says "the goal of NE14reading is to make
sure every single care home has books".
This project has now reached 200 foster carers in Leicestershire.
Karen Green, project development worker at Leicestershire
Library Service, explains, "We visit each foster home
with a pile of age-appropriate books, and sit on the floor
with the kids, telling stories, doing poetry or just chatting
about the book."
Contact: Leicestershire County Library Service; Andy Cooke,
District Librarian, Wigston Magna Library, Bull Head Street,
Leicester LE18 1PA, Tel: 0116 265 7376 Email:
acooke@leics.gov.uk
The Queen's English Society
This project aims to raise standards of spoken English
in primary schools. It is currently being piloted in two
schools, and includes daily readings separate from the literacy
hour. The children listen to a recording with their teacher,
followed by a minute of classical music, as the last session
of the day. The children are not questioned or required
to write anything after a recording.
Pilots are funded by the Queen's English Society, and will
last for six months. School heads interested in piloting
the tests should call Ian Brunton-Simmonds on 020 8671 6872
or 020 8317 3881.
(The Queen's English Society press release, January
2005)
The Adopt an Author project allows a class of children
to develop a teacher-monitored email relationship with a
chosen author over a period of six to eight weeks. Participants
then meet their author at readings a local festival. The
project is taking place in association with festivals in
Brighton, Cambridge, Swansea, Birmingham, Mid-Pennines and
Belfast. Each festival will get five authors on board and
target five classes in different schools. Pippa Smith, Head
of Education at Brighton Festival, said, "The children
loved it. They were coming in early in the mornings waiting
for the emails to come through. They started to believe
writing was something they could do. Then when the author
came across and met the children for the first time at the
festival they were thrilled. Book sales went through the
roof."
The project is funded for 2005 by NESTA, National Endowment
for Science, Technology and the Arts. Visit www.nesta.org.uk
for more information.
(Nesta press release, January 2005)
The Reading Power project is designed to raise children's interest
in books and achievement in reading. It draws on CLPE's forthcoming
publication Book Power and builds on the highly successful work CLPE
has undertaken in schools-based projects. The project will begin with
a major conference on reading on 1 July 2005.
The project will offer
- Teachers' book groups which focus on high quality children's literature
in Key Stages 1 and 2
- A box of 20 core texts for each teacher and classroom involved
in the project
- Support ad advice for setting up children's book groups in school
- Support and advice to enable teachers to use literature more
effectively in the classroom
- CLPE's highly regarded book lists and relevant publications
- Provision of support materials online and on CD
- 2 conferences, 4 half day insets at CLPE
- 2 in school visits, one staff meeting
- Access to CLPE's extensive library and specialist librarian support
The project will involve one or two teachers from each school. It is
recommended that at least one of the teachers involved is the English
Coordinator or Key Stage leader, or a teacher with a strong interest
in developing their role in this area.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Reading Power Project,
contact CLPE by 1 June 2005. CLPE, Webber Street, London
SE1 8QW, tel: 020 7401 3382/3, fax: 020 7928 4624, email
info@clpe.co.uk
This school-based project, run by the National Literacy
Association since 2002, supports children in Years 5 and
6 in three schools in Birmingham where there is a high proportion
of children from African and Caribbean backgrounds. It uses
a high-level of ICT, including hand-held portable computers,
as well as providing children with a book-rich environment
and giving support and encouragement to parents and carers.
The project, which is run in conjunction with Birmingham
Partnership for Change, has been evaluated by the University
of Central England. Contact Paula Edmondson at paula@bpc1.demon.co.uk
or call 0121 200 3980.
Slam is the competitive art of performance poetry, rapping and emceeing
(all without music) where participants perform before a loud and lively
audience and a panel of judges selected by that audience.
The Respect Slam showcases fresh and raw talent at the Mayor of London's
Annual Anti-Racism Festival, which is taking place this
year on Saturday 16 July. This is a chance for poets, rappers,
free-stylers or free-versers, groups and solo artists to
stand up and be heard: all you have to do is write an original
piece on the theme of respect.
Prizes include: membership of the Poetry Society, books, CDs, microphones,
free workshops, opportunity to perform alongside professionals, opportunity
to record your work on an album, and in-depth mentoring for the overall
winner. Those who make it through the first stage of the championship
will also get the opportunity to work with top UK spoken word artists.
If you want to take part call 020 7420 9893 or email info@poetrysociety.org.uk.
Posters and flyers are available: simply call the number
above.
Visit www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/competitions/rise
Read an article about rappers and
reading
Manga comics are Japanese cartoons notorious for their violent, and
often adult, content. The Reading Agency is sending an annotated list
of 150 Manga titles deemed suitable for teenagers to all libraries and
schools, to encourage young people to take an interest in reading. Concerns
have been raised about the perceived level of violence in the comics;
but Ruth Harrison of The Reading Agency says: "Mangas have the
reputation of being about sex and violence, but I don't think that's
justified. There is a huge range of storylines, covering relationships,
football, fantasy horror and sci-fi. A lot of the stories are quite
sophisticated, with complicated storylines and development of different
characters. It's more subtle than just a hero going out to battle evil."
Helen Pallett, literacy coordinator at Djangly city academy, in Nottingham,
already uses battle games to engage reluctant readers: "Anything
that gets pupils reading is a good idea. You have to tap into their
interests. Getting them to admit that reading is cool, and that they
enjoy it, is the first step. Once they've got over that barrier, you
can easily get them to move on to graphic novels, and then to other
books."
For more information about Manga Mania, visit The Reading Agency website
www.readingagency.org.uk
(TES, 12 November 2004)
A debating competition with a difference has received a £210,000
award from the Wellcome Trust. The Debating Matters competition brings
together teams of sixth-form and FE college students from all backgrounds
to debate topical issues. Emphasising research over rhetoric, the format
encourages expert judges and the audience to grill students about their
ideas. The judges then give Pop Idol style feedback before the winning
team is announced. The Wellcome Trust's award, to be paid over the next
three years has now secured the Pfizer-sponsored competition's further
development. Peter Finegold, education project manager at the trust,
commends Debating Matters organisers, the Institute of Ideas, for "combining
an independent approach with a sound public engagement strategy, offering
platform for discussion about issues that challenges dogma and appeals
to young people." Competition co-ordinator Tony Gilland says the
2005-06 competition will have heats in every region of the country.
"We aim to present a unique opportunity for students to discuss
contemporary issues with experts who are prepared to challenge them,
rather than just pat them on the back."
For more information call Tony Gilland on: 020 7269 9229
(TES, 1 October 2004)
Cleveland Arts is continuing to work on a range of reading promotion work
with young people following its involvement in Beyond Trainspotting, a
project funded by the National Year of Reading together with the Roald
Dahl Foundation, BT Reading Challenge and Northern Arts. Working
with Stockton and Hartlepool Central Libraries, Buzzwords worker Bob Beagrie
created a multi-faceted project that surveyed reading habits and preferences
among local youth cultures, arranged over 30 workshops to allow participants
from local drop-in centres, colleges, a prison and a boxing club to meet
professional writers and set up 'reading corrals' in the centre of
Stockton and Middleton Grange shopping centre in Hartlepool. Contact
01642 264651 or email
cleveland.arts@onyxnet.co.uk
The North-West Libraries Book Promotion Partnership won a DCMS/Wolfson
2000 grant for Reading Lifelines, a regional project involving 18 authorities
targeting socially excluded 16 to 25-year-olds to encourage their involvement
in reader-centred activities through outreach work and ICT. Librarians
liaised with youth workers and consulted and surveyed 18 groups of young
people, who were then involved in the development of the projects. Contact
0151 233 5816.
Leeds Libraries received DCMS/Wolfson 2000 funding to launch 'Way Ahead'.
This was a reader development programme focusing on 16 to 19-year-old
non-library users living in inner city Leeds, an area suffering from a
multitude of issues such as high crime rates, unemployment and poverty.
A series of creative activities and events were employed to encourage
young people to use the libraries and become active participants in the
literal life of the city. The project worked with young people to develop
specialist reader-centred collections of books and materials within the
Central Library's new youth provision area 'The Space'. The process was
documented, and the findings disseminated across the service and used
to inform how we provide services to socially excluded young people.
Bradford's Reading the City project received DCMS/Wolfson 2001 funding
to use reading to reach out to the city's young people and contribute
to the revitalisation of Bradford, both physically and through the eyes
of young residents. The project used outreach workers - 'reading champions'
- to engage young people and make a case for reading in their lives.
Other elements of the project included creating a re-tocked centre for
young people in the central library, programming imaginative events
and developing partnerships with other leisure venues in the city.
Contact Bradford library service on 01274 753666.
The North West Libraries Book Promotion Partnership funded by DCMS/Wolfson
2001 ran the Everybody's Reading project, which used the attraction
of ICT as a hook to engage excluded 16-25 year-olds in reading activities
at a level that works for them. The project involved consultation with
young people to produce a range of ICT-based reading activities and
book promotions, extending the audience for libraries and making them
a hub of the young person's community.
Contact Liverpool Library Service, on 0151 233 5816.
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