Westmorland and Furness Council is delighted to invite volunteers aged between 14 and 24 to help coordinate this year’s Summer Reading Challenge in our Libraries.
The Summer Reading Challenge, organised by the Reading Agency, encourages children aged 4 to 12 to get excited about reading by signing up to the challenge of reading six books over the summer holidays and take part in many activities hosted in our libraries. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success and why Westmorland and Furness Libraries is invested in delivering the challenge.
This year’s theme is ‘Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors’ and aims to inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
Every year, young people aged between 14 and 24 play a pivotal role in helping to coordinate the event by guiding children through the challenge, registering participants, assisting with book selections, engaging in discussions about their reading choices, and facilitating library activities.
As the school holidays approach, this initiative not only champions a love for reading but also helps prevent the summer learning ‘dip’, ensuring children are ready for the upcoming academic year.
All volunteers are given training before the challenge starts and if they are working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award or similar, their logged hours can be counted towards it.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, said:
“We’re really pleased that young volunteers will continue to play such a crucial part in this really popular scheme - the Reading Challenge is a win-win, offering enjoyment and learning to both the children who take part and the volunteers who support them.
“Books are a portal to new worlds and ideas and the reader is in charge of their own journey. Helping children access the world of books and encouraging a love of reading from an early age is something we can all champion.
“This volunteering opportunity enables young people to give something back to their community, but they gain things too - growing confidence, learning new skills, developing their own research knowledge, and gaining valuable work experience. I’d like to encourage young people to take part and offer my grateful thanks to everyone who does!”
To learn more about the volunteering opportunity and to apply, interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to their local library, or visit the council’s website.
For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge, visit the Reading Agency’s website.