Bolton Literacy Trust runs a range of
activities that directly or indirectly support and enhance
literacy attainment at all levels for the people of Bolton.
A major focus of its work is to promote the importance
of reading through family learning activities. Since its
opening in 2004, the Trust's Family Learning Centre in Great
Lever, Bolton, has attracted over 300 learners and in light
of the great success of this centre, the Trust has recently
been invited to be a major partner in the launch of the
new Nightingale Learning Centre in Bolton. As part of the
Family Reading Campaign, the Trust held a 'Family Fun with
Books and Crafts' day on 11th January 2007 at the Nightingale
Centre.
The Trust is currently working in partnership with Connexions
to deliver a fun course called 'Little Learners' at its
Great Lever Family Learning Centre. The sessions aim to
support young parents and their children with developing
early literacy in the home. The activities within Little
Learners involve making books and using story sacks, and
parents are given top tips for sharing books in the home.
The sessions aim to encourage both the parents and children
to have fun with books.
During the summer, the Trust visited local parks to have
story fun with parents, carers and children on the theme
of 'The Gruffalo'. Activities included making story puppets
to encourage children to take part in the story, and a nature
booklet was provided to encourage parents and children to
explore the park.
As part of the Share Family Learning programme, parents
are encouraged to use everyday opportunities to support
their child's development, such as sorting the washing and
while shopping. The Trust's most recent programme, 'Supporting
Your Child's Literacy', will focus on raising awareness
of the importance of literacy to learning and give parents
an understanding of the range of activities that can contribute
to that process, as well as giving them confidence to work
with their child to promote reading as an enjoyable activity
and vital life skill. Words and Pictures sessions for parents
with pre-school children explore a letter of the alphabet
each week and demonstrate ways in which parents can interact
with their children and foster the love of books.
The Trust also celebrates and promotes reading through
supporting various reading groups and establishing RaW Corners
in a variety of local community centres using the Quick
Reads books, launched as part of the BBC
RaW (Reading and Writing) campaign. It also sponsors
the Bolton Children's Book Award, which aims to encourage
secondary age children to read and through delivering training
and providing books for looked after children and their
carers. An early winner of the Trust's quarterly Achievement
Award was a volunteer reading helper whose commitment and
enthusiasm made a real difference to the reading of the
pupils he was supporting.
The Trust is constantly seeking new and innovative ways
of working to build on its success and continue to promote
the importance and enjoyment of reading for all.
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