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Borders (UK) & BOOKS Etc
Starbucks Coffee Company
UBS
UPS Foundation
WHSmith Trust
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 A
nine-year partnership between RIF and Borders & Books
Etc introduces children to their local bookshop and
encourages them to enjoy reading. Classes of school
children visit their local branch to hear stories, to
take part in a quiz run by bookshop staff, or to meet
an author before being given a free £5 book token to
spend in store on a book of their choice. Children visit
three times over the course of a year, and many teachers
report that by the second and third visits, children's
attitudes to books improve significantly, along with
their ability to navigate their way around the store
to choose a book that they are interested in. Booksellers
also notice that many children return to the store with
parents and siblings, helping to change the attitudes
and lifestyle of the whole family. |
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All Books for Children (ABC), the partnership project
between RIF and Starbucks, is currently in its sixth year.
The project targets non library-using pre-school children
and their families, who are invited to a series of informal
events at their local library. Run by librarians, the
events aim to help families feel welcome and at home during
their first visit, and to challenge the stereotype that
libraries are dull, stuffy places. Familes join in fun
and interactive activities including storytelling, songs,
face-painting and crafts, and enjoy the gift of a free
book for every child and free Starbucks refreshments served
by volunteers from the local store. Parents are also encouraged
to join the library with their child, and librarians report
that many participating families sign up and become regular
users of their services. |
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 Leading
financial services firm, UBS, has pledged further support
for RIF projects for the next three years (2006-09), following
a successful three year partnership with RIF in Tower
Hamlets, Newham and Hackney libraries. The new grant from
UBS will enable RIF to run projects in East London, Lambeth,
Southwark and Newcastle, supporting pre-school children
and their families either in libraries or early years
settings. Families will be targeted through local nurseries
or through direct contact with parents via family health
workers or community group leaders. They will be invited
to events celebrating the benefits of sharing books together
at home. Children will choose a free book at each event,
and UBS volunteers will attend to help out whenever possible. |
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 Support
from the UPS Foundation Global Grants Program is enabling
RIF to improve the resources we offer our local project
coordinators. This includes refreshing the design of our
termly magazine, RIF, UK Update and the project handbook,
and producing a new RIF leaflet as well as generic posters
to advertise forthcoming RIF events. Thanks to UPS, RIF
has also been funded to trial a new model of corporate
volunteering with RIF, involving UPS staff, which will
be piloted in Nottingham during 2006/07. |
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 Following
a successful pilot year in 2005, the WHSmith Trust confirmed
funding for a further two years for the RIF/WHSmith
Summer Read project for 2006 and 2007. The project runs
in summer play schemes in schools, libraries and community
locations in 15 towns and boroughs around the UK. Coordinators
organise two special events where each child can choose
a free book to take home and keep, along with a WHSmith
goody bag including stationery and a £1 voucher
to spend in their local store. Coordinators are enthusiastic
about the support they receive from WHSmith staff who
volunteer to help at local events, serving refreshments,
giving out the goody bags or helping children to choose
their books. |
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