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Quick Reads Reading Breaks for World Book Day

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

NIACE is calling on workplaces, colleges and local community organisations across the country to hold Reading Breaks to encourage new and reluctant readers to develop a love of reading following the publication of 8 new Quick Reads in February 2012. The new Quick Reads authors for 2012 include Maeve Binchy, Alexander McCall Smith, James Caan and Tony Parsons.



Reading Break activity will kick-start on Tuesday 7 February 2012 to coincide with the launch of the new titles, and NIACE is encouraging organisations to hold activity through to World Book Day on Thursday 1 March 2012 and beyond. This will coincide with February's 'Fall in Love with Reading' campaign, co-ordinated by Freud communications.



Because parents who are confident readers have such a positive impact on their children's literacy levels, we are also working in partnership with World Book Day to encourage schools and other family learning organisations to hold a Family Reading Break as part of their World Book Day activities, on Thursday 1 March 2012 when new books for children will be published.



On World Book Day 2011 hundreds of schools held Family Reading Breaks where parents and carers joined their children in finding out more about books and how they could help each other explore and enjoy the world of reading together. NIACE is hoping that even more schools and workplaces will get involved to help reluctant readers discover a passion for books in 2012.



To help make these Reading Breaks a success, free downloadable reading break and family reading break toolkits are available. Comprehensive packs for schools and workplaces, complete with discounted copies of the new titles (and a display stand for workplaces only), can be ordered online. The packs for schools will also include a selection of children's books. A range of other resources will also be available to download from this site in the run-up to the publication of the new Quick Reads on Thursday 2 February 2012.

The full list of Quick Reads titles for 2012 consists of:

• Full House by Maeve Binchy
• The Cleverness of Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Little One by Lynda La Plante
• Amy's Diary by Maureen Lee
• Beyond the Bounty by Tony Parsons
• Quantum of Tweed by Conn Iggulden
• Get the Life You Really Want by James Caan
• Magic of the Angels by Jacqueline Rayner

Emma Cliffe, Project Manager of Quick Reads at NIACE, said:

"In 2011 hundreds of schools helped children and parents enjoy books and reading activities together, and we are inviting all organisations - schools and other children's and family centres - across the country to get involved for 2012. Research, including NIACE's recent literacy inquiry, shows that parents' reading habits are the single most important factor in children's literacy and reading and the Family Reading Break provides a great opportunity for teachers to talk to mums, dads and carers about their reading and how they can help their children. These breaks will build on current family learning initiatives that schools may be running."



"Businesses, too, have identified that literacy initiatives in the workplace improve productivity, attendance and morale, and help workers feel more confident in their jobs and more positive about their future careers. Quick Reads have been an integral part of helping many thousands of people to read, complete and enjoy a book for the first time in their lives - something they thought would never happen. They then go on to read more and more and pass on their love of reading to their friends and family."

Quick Reads: Terry Jones interview

Thursday, 3 March 2011

Monty Python, Terry Jones, spoke to NIACE's Ed Melia about his Quick Read - Trouble on the Heath - his love of books and reading and what fascinates and inspires him.

• Listen to Terry's interview here.
• You can also listen to Terry reading the first chapter of Trouble on the Heath here.

Quick Reads’ Reception

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

MPs and Peers, authors, employers, representatives of the publishing industry, adult learning providers and learners are attending a reception at the House of Lords today, to acknowledge the Quick Reads initiative - and its unique cross-sector partnership - and the contribution it has made to adult literacy learning across the UK.

Over the past six years millions of Quick Reads have been distributed and hundreds of thousands of adults have discovered - or re-discovered - the joy of reading. For many, they are now confident to use literacy in everyday life.

Speaking at the event will be:

• the Earl of Listowel;

• Dame Gail Rebuck, CEO of Random House Publishing and Chair of Quick Reads; and

• Alan Tuckett, Chief Executive of NIACE.

Carol Taylor, Director or Operations at NIACE, said:

"Over a third of the adult population admit to not having the time or inclination to read for pleasure in their busy lives. Many struggle to finish a book or do not have the confidence or skills to think about reading one. Quick Reads are written and published to help adults to improve their literacy skills and discover a love of reading and books."

"Over the past six years we have witnessed the remarkable impact Quick Reads have had on the lives of thousands of new readers. Many, who before were nervous of books and had to hide the fact they found reading and writing difficult, have go on to read other books and become more confident in themselves, at work and in helping their children with school work. The number of businesses across the country who use Quick Reads are testament to how effective these books are and their investment in improving the literacy skills of their workforce is to be applauded."

City Parks Literacy Group

Eight gardeners with Brighton & Hove City Council's Parks and Gardens Department have used newly acquired literacy skills to help their families and fellow workers, and are now learning ambassadors to the wider community - thanks to Quick Reads.

With reading skills at Level 1 or below, and no further education since school, all the gardeners had negative memories of learning and were apprehensive about returning to a classroom. But a Train to Gain programme run jointly by the council and the GMB Union has given them a new zest for learning.

David Coleman said:

"It has boosted my confidence so I can help my six-year-old with his homework,"

Similarly, Nick Burton said:

"I'm reading bedtime stories to my children (which they love). I have noticed my children are taking a greater interest in reading and school activities in general."

For John Durrant, the key to success was mutual support. He said:

"We are improving by helping ourselves and each other."

Gerildine Talbot, aged 44, from Leeds

Gerildine never learnt to read and write due to a disrupted childhood. She spent some time in care and was labelled ‘think' and ‘stupid' by her school.



Encouraged to write her life story by social workers eleven years ago, it was only last year that Gerildine attended a Leeds City College Skills for Life literacy class, after realising she needed the skills to edit her book. She has already achieved an Entry Level 2 qualification in Literacy, she attends a book club, has learnt to use a computer and completed courses in Indian Head Massage and Painting and Drawing Level 1.

Her tutor Ann Eveleigh said:

"Learning to read and write had made a tremendous difference to Geraldine's life. She is now more confident, talkative, bursting with life and energy."

Gerildine said:

"Firstly I am not thick, I know that I can learn and can achieve. It's like a door opening, I cannot stop reading, I have books galore at home; I now understand the joy of reading. I used to walk with my head down, but now I'm looking at everything, hoping to learn more."

Gerildine is also in the last stages of editing her book. She said:

"My experiences have been very difficult. It's been a way to address everything that's happened to me and move forward. It's like magic to me now. I know I will be learning all of my life."

NIACE is co-ordinating an independent Inquiry into Adult and Youth Literacy in England, which will report on International Literacy Day, 8 September 2011.

Breakfast Club support for Family Reading Breakfasts

Friday, 25 February 2011

ContinYou and Breakfast Club Plus are delighted to be supporting 'Hold a Family Reading Breakfast' on World Book Day - 3 March 2011. ContinYou will be encouraging all their breakfast clubs to register and join in!

Add a fresh twist to your World Book Day celebrations this March. Breakfast clubs across the country are being offered the chance to create a buzz around reading by inviting parents to join in a national Family Reading Breakfast.

Encourage families to read together this World Book Day, 3 March. Reading for pleasure is not only a healthy activity for children but also for busy parents, improving their well-being and confidence, for an altogether more healthy family life. Mothers and fathers reading with their children help raise standards of literacy and goes a long way to establishing the reading habit for life. 

Find out more about the Breakfast Club Plus initiative here