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This project aims to improve the educational attainment
of looked-after children and young people in Bolton to at
least that of their peers, through fun, creative learning.
It does this through improving access to books, reading
and library services; running fun events with practical
opportunities for learning; building confidence and self-esteem,
supporting children to achieve their potential at school
and in life; and offering support to carers.
Management
Caring to Read was initiated by Bolton Metropolitan Borough
Council, and is managed day-to-day by a coordinator employed
by Bolton Literacy Trust (BLT). Funding comes from the Paul
Hamlyn Foundation. The steering group is made up of representatives
from Bolton Metro education department, social services,
library services and other departments. They meet monthly
and also form the steering group for other literacy-related
projects.
This group, known as Right to Read, was formed following
a conference organised by Bolton Metro and its Corporate
Children's Officer (a post created in 1999 to encourage
all council departments to become involved in the lives
of looked-after children). At the conference, local authority
departments were invited to consult with looked-after children
and carers to find out first hand how their services affected
them. Literacy emerged as an important issue and the group
came together to focus efforts to promote it. For example,
when it was found that young people in residential care
homes were not accessing comics or magazines, the library
service was willing and able to fill the gap.
- Computer activities and website design, making Storysacks,
library events, theatre review writing, music-based activities,
silk painting
- An event based around Bolton Literacy Trust's Playstation-style
'KIT' machine, allowing learning through games
- A website for looked-after children in Bolton: www.plodge.org.uk.
This features reading ideas, Caring to Read events, competitions
and quizzes, and encourages contributions from young people,
such as creative writing and good reads recommendations
- Summer holiday activity packs
- Supplying books on specific issues, such as bullying,
emotions and dealing with family breakdown to a Social
Services venue regularly accessed by carers
- Inviting all carers to request a book as a Christmas
present for any child they were looking after
- A Reading The Game
project in partnership with Bolton Football Club, as part
of Reading
is Fundamental, UK (RIF)
- The BLT's Family Learning Centre, offering support services
and informal courses, a drop-in space for advice about
reading and learning for all ages, and a range of books
for children and adults that can be borrowed by any carer
- Literacy support for carers on a discreet, one-to-one
basis, focusing on building confidence and suggesting
courses if appropriate; offering carers home visits to
talk through any issues around the education of the children
they care for
- Involving the Caring to Read coordinator in Family Placement
Team meetings and residential team meetings
- Information packs for carers being produced by library
services
- Looked-after children and carers do not want to be seen
as a 'specialist' group needing their own events; it is
better to include provision for them in more inclusive
events with other children
- After school is a busy time for both children and carers
- it is better to hold events in school holidays
- Children who have just come into care are under a lot
of stress and may not want or have time to come to events
Statistics on attendance at events, numbers of looked-after
children joining libraries, and RIF registrations are recorded.
Staff are evaluating what works and what doesn't, and building
a strategy to take the work forward. Some of the comments
received after events are:
"Very enjoyable … L. said it was very fun and
she will come back"
"I like it very much … I wish it was longer …
I'm glad that I got to play on the big Playstation"
[KIT machine]
"I want to come to another one!"
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Caring to Read, Bolton