Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343

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Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
Reading for pleasure:
                                Reading for life

Booktrust, Book House,
45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ
www.booktrust.org.uk

Registered charity 313343
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
Contents
01   Introduction
03   About Booktrust
04   Bookgifting
06   The bookgifting model
10   Early Years
16   Primary-aged children   Introduction
24   Young People            Booktrust is an independent charity
28   Adults                  dedicated to encouraging people of all
32   Summary                 ages and cultures to engage with books
                             and the written word. It is supported
                             by Arts Council England, central and
                             local government, children’s publishers
                             and other sponsors.

                             Independent reading for pleasure is the
                             most important indicator of the future
                             success of a child. Research from the
                             Organisation for Economic Co-operation
                             and Development (OECD, 2002) found
                             that enjoying reading is more important
                             for children’s educational success than their
                             family’s socio-economic status. Reading
                                                                                 Booktrust, Book House,
                             for pleasure is also proven to combat social    45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ
                             exclusion, helps to raise literacy and               www.booktrust.org.uk
                             educational standards and supports
                             health and emotional wellbeing.

                             All of this demonstrates the crucial
                             importance of reading for pleasure
                             in every child’s life.
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
Introduction | 01

Booktrust therefore works in partnership       This document presents an overview of
with Local Authorities and Local NHS,          how Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up
to collectively achieve our vision of giving   and also The Letterbox Club, provide
people of every age and culture the            Local Authorities with a cultural and
educational, intellectual, health and          creative entitlement for every child.
emotional, social, cultural and creative
benefits that arise from a love of             As part of Booktrust’s wider offer,
reading and the written word.                  the bookgifting programmes offer the
                                               opportunity for us to work together in
As a consortium member of the National         supporting positive outcomes for the
Year of Reading 2008, Booktrust heartily       whole community.
endorses the development of a Reading
Strategy in every Local Authority and
the National Literacy Trust’s Reading
for Life campaign.
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
02

 > Inspiring a love of reading

                                 > Reading for pleasure

 > Reading for life
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
03

About Booktrust
Since its inception almost 80 years ago,
Booktrust’s vision has been to inspire
a love of reading for all.

Thanks to funding from the Arts Council     Booktrust recognises and builds upon:
England, central and local government and   > the critical importance of fathers,
a range of sponsors, Booktrust is now the     mothers and other carers as first teachers
largest independent charity in the UK       > the profound and lasting effect that the
dedicated to promoting books, stories         attitudes and early skills developed in
and the written word.                         the home can have on a child’s future
                                              as a lifelong reader and learner
Booktrust’s Values:                         > access to culture and creativity
> Creativity                                  as a personal entitlement
> Expertise                                 > the importance of independent
> Impact                                      reading for pleasure and its positive
> Independence                                impact on emotional health
> Responsiveness                              and wellbeing.

                                            Amongst Booktrust’s projects are three
                                            universal bookgifting programmes – Bookstart,
                                            Booktime and Booked Up – which provide free
                                            books to children at five key points in their
                                            development.
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
04

Bookgifting
In 1992, Booktrust worked in partnership with
libraries and health visitors in Birmingham to create
Bookstart. It started with 300 babies and grew
into the first national bookgifting
programme in the world.

Following the phenomenal success of
Bookstart, other countries have followed
our lead and Booktrust has encouraged
bookgifting across the globe.

                                                    North America/Carribean

                                                                            South America

Global bookgifting programmes
Europe...................Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany,
                            Holland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland.
North America/
Caribbean..............British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, USA.
South America.......Columbia, Falkland Islands.
Asia.........................Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand.
Oceania..................Australia, New Zealand.
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
05

Europe

                   Asia

         Oceania
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
06

The bookgifting model
In delivering Bookstart, Booktrust and our
partners pioneered a unique and powerful
public/private partnership, which has
impacted positively upon millions
of children.

The bookgifting model                              Francesca Dow
Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up                  Chair of the Children’s Group,
                                                   Publishers Association
Bookstart offers the gift of free books to
all children at three key ages before they         As publishers we are very aware of the research
start school. This phenomenal achievement          that shows how important it is for all children,
is thanks to the powerful commitment of            if they are to become life-long readers, to have
our sponsors and Local Authorities. The            books at home – whether they are bought as
programme is enabled by funding from               gifts or borrowed from the library. We support
central government and the generous                Bookstart, which encourages parents to share
sponsorship of more than 25 children’s             books with their baby from their earliest years
publishers. It is coordinated, resourced           and Booktime, which gives books as children
and delivered locally via enthusiastic local       start reception at age five.
public services professionals, including
Health Visitors, Librarians and Early              We also support Booked Up, which
Years Professionals.                               ensures that all eleven-year-olds are given
                                                   the opportunity to choose a brand new
The success of Bookstart inspired Booktime         book to keep as their own.
(for reception-aged children) and Booked Up
(for Year 7 children). The programmes provide      This is an exciting and positive start
a continuum of intervention to support families    to their secondary school years, especially
with young children and young people,              for those children who do not have books
introducing and reinforcing the joy and value      at home. Reading independently for pleasure
of sharing books. The book gifts reach children    adds immeasurably to a child’s self awareness,
at times of key transition. They are gifted with   general knowledge and education and is
positive messages and form important steps in      every bit as important as reading in
every child’s reading journey. This is further     the classroom.
supplemented by Booktrust’s other prizes
and programmes.
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
07

An exceptional value-added partnership           The national bookgifting programmes have the
Local Authorities and Local NHS are under        potential to positively impact upon the lives of
pressure to deliver high quality services with   every child and should form a core offer within
limited resources. Booktrust’s unique public/    the Reading Strategy of every authority.
private partnership programmes receive
£13million of government funding and thanks
to our sponsorship support, Booktrust provides
bookgifting programmes worth £69million
free of charge to Local Authorities in
England every year.

The total annual value of £69million for
Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up refers
to the programmes’ book packs, the dual
language offers, additional needs packs,
support materials and resources, central
administration costs, warehouse and delivery
services, as well as research costs. Booktrust
also achieves high levels of media coverage,
building awareness of the programmes,
and of reading more generally, amongst
established and new audiences alike.

www.booktrust.org.uk
Reading for pleasure: Reading for life - Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ www.booktrust.org.uk Registered charity 313343
08

Inclusiveness and accessibility
Reading has the power to transform lives.
Books open us to new worlds and experiences
that are enriching and exciting, building our
imaginations, helping us to relate to others
and to the world around us.

Booktrust believes it’s important that            Booktrust ensures that the illustrations and
everyone has access to the benefits of reading    photography it commissions are representative
and that all individuals are able to find books   and that children, in particular, can identify
to which they can relate. In promoting the        with images and find role models in the
availability of a breadth of books that are       books we use.
meaningful and relevant to a range of
audiences, Booktrust works hard to                Some families, such as those in Gypsy,
improve inclusiveness and accessibility.          Roma and Traveller communities, may be
                                                  less likely to come into regular contact with
                                                  the public services that provide book packs.
As part of the Bookstart programme,               We therefore work with a wide range of
Booktrust produces two additional resource        specialist teachers and support teams as well
packs: Booktouch for children 0 to four years     as other charitable organisations to increase
old who are blind or partially sighted and        access and broaden participation across
Bookshine for deaf children.                      the programmes.

The books on the Booked Up list include           Booktrust also works with neonatal
engaging titles for pupils who have               units, children’s hospices, hospital schools
additional needs.                                 and Children and Adolescent Mental Health
                                                  Services units to ensure that as many children
                                                  as possible have access to the bookgifting
                                                  programmes.
09

We ensure that materials are accessible for       COMMUNITY
those fathers and mothers with less confidence
and experience with books as well as those
                                                  LANGUAGE VERSIONS
who already enjoy reading together with           OF THE BOOKSTART
their children. By working closely with           AND BOOKTIME
family learning coordinators, with community      GUIDANCE
outreach workers and with organisations like      INFORMATION
Home-Start, we can access and give direct         ARE AVAILABLE IN
encouragement and support to those families
that need it most. In addition, the bookgifting
                                                  29 COMMUNITY
programmes are often used to promote              LANGUAGES.
further opportunities for family learning
and adult learning.
                                                  WE WORK HARD
Volunteers are deployed in a number of            TO ENCOURAGE
Local Authorities; they offer valuable support
in delivering the programmes and increased
                                                  PUBLISHERS TO
community cohesion via a worthwhile               INCLUDE CHILDREN
and rewarding activity encouraging                WITH DISABILITIES
children to love books.                           IN THEIR TITLES.

www.booktrust.org.uk
10

     1
     Chapter
11

Early      Years
  A child’s relationship with stories
 can begin even before they are born.
At 24 weeks’ gestation a baby can hear,
     and benefits from the sound
        of books being shared.
12

Bookstart
Reading stories, looking at the pictures and
singing rhymes all help in strengthening the
loving bond between parent and child and begin
to develop the language and listening skills
that give children a head start at school.

Stories, songs and rhymes should be available       Bookstart baby pack
for all children to enjoy. A child who shares       Sharing a book with a child is an
books every day and lives in a language-rich        exchange of love.
home, is developing language and literacy skills,
as well as benefiting socially and emotionally.     Bookstart+ for toddlers
All children should have access to stories,         When fathers, mothers and carers share
songs and rhymes.                                   books they open up their child’s world.

The Bookstart packs are provided at three           My Bookstart Treasure Chest
key points in the child’s early development         Book-sharing is not only about learning skills
(at approximately eight months, 18 to 30            or aptitudes – it is learning about the very
months and three to four years old). The packs      nature of being human…
include books, which are carefully selected by
a panel of experts, as well as a wealth of advice
for parents and carers and an invitation to join
the library. From 18 months, children also          We are currently piloting a new book gift pack
receive crayons and a drawing book to               to support and encourage mothers and fathers
encourage early mark making.                        to develop good habits by reading to their
                                                    baby in the womb.
Bookstart promotes fathers, mothers
and carers as the child’s most important
and enduring teachers and encourages them
to become role models by valuing reading
in the home.
13

More information on National Bookstart Day can be found on page 14
14

The Bookstart packs are supported by a wealth
of additional activities in libraries, Children’s
Centres and other settings, all designed to
continue parents’ engagement in sharing
books with children.

National Bookstart Day                              The Early Years Awards 2009 received
National Bookstart Day brings families,             190 entries across the three categories with
professionals and Bookstart together in             a high-profile judging panel including
an annual celebration of the Bookstart              Edith Bowman.
programme. In 2009, more than 5000 special
events took place across the country in a variety   The Rhyme Challenge
of venues. Events are supported by printed          The Rhyme Challenge launched in 2010
and downloadable resources from Booktrust,          across Children’s Centres, Early Years
following a different theme each year.              Settings and Primary schools. Children and
                                                    their mothers, fathers, carers and grandparents
 National Bookstart Day 2010’s theme is             will be invited to learn rhymes and will be
‘At the Seaside’. Our forthcoming themes are:       awarded special certificates at The Rhyme
 > June 2010 – At the Seaside                       Challenge celebration events. The rhymes
 > June 2011 – All Aboard                           and resources featured in The Rhyme
 > June 2012 (the 20th anniversary                  Challenge will be updated every year,
   of Bookstart!) – Stories Around the              with the aim of keeping rhymes alive
   World. This will celebrate Bookstart’s           and building good home/school
   own expansion around the world and help          relationships.
   us to celebrate the Olympiad festivities.

Booktrust Early Years Awards
Created to celebrate, publicise and reward
the exciting range of books being published
today for children under five, Booktrust runs
its annual Early Years Awards. These recognise
excellence in three categories: the best book
for babies under one year old, the best picture
book for preschool and the best emerging
illustrator of a book for preschool children.
15

  > Over two million children a year receive          > Each Bookstart pack reaches an average 95%
    a free Bookstart pack.                              of eligible children.

Bookstart Book Crawl
The Bookstart Book Crawl promotes libraries
                                                 95% OF LOCAL
and reader development, providing resources
                                                 AUTHORITIES TAKE
free of charge to all Local Authorities.         PART IN THE BOOK
                                                 CRAWL LIBRARY
We are investigating possibilities for further   INCENTIVE. OF THESE,
increasing participation in Bookstart Book       90% HOLD IT ALL YEAR
Crawl through existing and new partnerships
with Children’s Centres, Nurseries, Clinics,
                                                 ROUND, WHILE 10%
shops and supermarkets.
                                                 USE A TARGETED
                                                 APPROACH
Children collect stickers at each library
visit towards a collection of limited edition
certificates. Beautifully illustrated, these
certificates serve as a wonderful reminder
of children’s earliest years as library users.   AROUND 105,206
Children completing ten Bookstart Book           BOOKSTART BOOK
Crawls will have visited the library
40 times and are awarded a special
                                                 CRAWL CERTIFICATES
Gold certificate.                                WERE AWARDED LAST
                                                 YEAR, EQUATING TO
                                                 420,824 LIBRARY
                                                 VISITS

                                                 CHILDREN COMPLETING
                                                 10 ‘CRAWLS’ RECEIVE
                                                 A GOLD CERTIFICATE.
                                                 THIS EQUATES TO
                                                 40 LIBRARY VISITS
www.booktrust.org.uk
16

     2
     Chapter
17

Primary-
   aged
     children
   As children move into, and through,
primary school, books form an important
   part of their formal learning, but it
 remains vital to continue encouraging
        book-sharing in the home.
18

Primary-aged children
Independent reading and shared reading
for interest and enjoyment builds a child’s
confidence as a learner. When a child equates
reading with enjoyment and pleasure, that
association strongly enhances their
formal education.

Our programmes and activities affirm and         Packs include a book, selected by an expert
encourage mothers, fathers and carers to share   panel and guidance for parents and carers on
a love of books every day and support them in    shared reading. Additional interactive resources
becoming role models for their children.         are also sent to schools and participating
                                                 libraries to support use of the books.
Booktime
Booktime encourages parents and carers           Booktime is supported in England by central
to enjoy sharing books with their reception-     government and was launched by education
aged children (four to five years old) at this   and publishing company Pearson in association
important transition stage in their learning     with Booktrust in 2006.
and development.
                                                 The Children’s Laureate
Vibrant packs, characterised by ‘Booky’          The Children’s Laureate, sponsored by
the energetic book, are given to every           Waterstone’s, is an award given to an eminent
reception-aged child during the                  author or illustrator every two years,
autumn term.                                     recognising outstanding achievement in their
                                                 field. The Laureate undertakes to be an
                                                 ambassador for children’s books and to
                                                 encourage a love of reading amongst children
                                                 and young people. Booktrust administers the
                                                 award and looks after the selection process,
                                                 official events, press and public relations, the
                                                 web site and sponsorship.
19

 > 650,000 reception-aged pupils receive          > School resource packs help teachers build
   a Booktime pack every year.                      relationships with parents.

The idea for the Children’s Laureate
originated from a conversation between            BOOKTIME IS
(the then) Poet Laureate Ted Hughes               HELPING LIBRARIES
and children’s writer Michael Morpurgo.           TO INCREASE THEIR
The illustrator Quentin Blake was the first       MEMBERSHIP
Children’s Laureate (1999–2001), followed
by Anne Fine (2001–2003), Michael Morpurgo
                                                  AND USAGE.
(2003–2005), Jacqueline Wilson (2005–7),
Michael Rosen (2007–2009) and most recently
Anthony Browne (2009–11).
                                                  650,000
Each Children’s Laureate has made his or          RECEPTION-AGED
her mark on the industry and Anthony Browne
is making his by promoting the value of
                                                  PUPILS RECEIVE
illustration in books for children of all ages.   A BOOKTIME PACK
                                                  EVERY YEAR.
20

Our aim for primary-aged children is that
they become confident readers who are inspired
to read widely and enjoy books outside
of the school environment.

Children’s Book Week                                 Book Prizes
Children’s Book Week is a celebration of reading     To recognise and reward the wealth and
for pleasure for children of primary school age,     diversity of books written for children and
which takes place in the first full week of          adults, Booktrust administers a number of
October. Booktrust sends packs of resources to       literary prizes. We aim to celebrate emerging
all state primary schools, public libraries,         and existing authors, raise the profile of
special schools and initial teacher training         high quality books and promote them
institutions, including book recommendations,        to children and families.
activities, information, posters and stickers.
                                                     The Roald Dahl Funny Prize was
Over 46,000 copies of the packs were                 created by former Children’s Laureate
distributed in 2009 and events and activities to     Michael Rosen, to promote laughter and
celebrate reading took place in schools, libraries   feel-good factor when reading, by encouraging
and other venues all over the country.               families to read together and discover the
                                                     pleasure of humorous books. This in turn
Booktrust also produces a wealth of other            will reinforce the message that reading
resources for teachers and schools, available        together promotes family wellbeing.
both in print and electronically.
                                                     The prize is awarded for the funniest
Everybody Writes                                     books in two categories: for children
Everybody Writes is all about taking writing         aged six years and under, and children
beyond the classroom, and into the playground        seven to14 years old.
and the wider community. Primary and
secondary teachers can find a wealth of writing
ideas and model projects on the Everybody
Writes website, inspiring them to create
engaging writing activities for their students.
21

‘People always want to know of funny              The prestigious Blue Peter Book Awards were
 books for children. There’s always a birthday    established in 2000. Winners are short-listed
 or a Christmas present to think about, there’s   by a panel of adult judges and then a group
 always a long journey, there are always wet      of young Blue Peter viewers judge the three
 days on holiday. But where are the               categories: Book I Couldn’t Put Down, Best
 funny books?                                     Book with Facts and Most Fun Story with
                                                  Pictures. The panel of young readers then
They’re here! At the Roald Dahl Funny             picks the title which deserves the accolade,
Prize! We choose the top six funny books          Blue Peter Book of the Year.
for the youngest and the same again for the
older children and then two outright winners
from the twelve. It’s a feast of laughs and
giggles for everyone. I’m over the moon
to be one of the judges again.’ Michael Rosen,
Chair of judges, The Roald Dahl funny prize.

www.booktrust.org.uk
22

The Letterbox Club focuses on improving
the educational outlook for looked-after children
aged between seven and 11 by providing them with
a parcel of books, maths activities and stationery
every month, for six months.

The Letterbox Club                               ‘I think it’s a highly admirable project –
The Letterbox Club parcels are sent directly      and children, parents and carers are very
to the child at their foster home or other        pleased to receive free books especially
residence. The Letterbox Club is also suitable    where affordability and ownership
for other vulnerable children who need            of books is a luxury.’
additional support.                               Teacher

Research shows that looked-after children        ‘It got children into libraries who hadn’t
underachieve in education but evaluation          previously visited and made them want to
of the Letterbox Club shows a demonstrable        come back, many said they would ask
impact with the majority of children improving    mums to bring them later.’
their standardised score in reading. The key      Librarian
benefits of their participation are:
                                                 ‘I think that providing for those children
> Increased involvement of                        who need that extra push is brilliant – we all
  children in their own learning                  know the statistics relating to looked-after
> Gains in reading and number                     children within the city and anyone who can
  work for many children                          make a difference needs praise indeed.’
> Enjoyment for the child in receiving            Foster parent
  a series of personalised parcels
> Increased involvement of carers.

The Letterbox Club is available as a
purchasable programme across the UK.
23

‘Jake felt rather special as he loved the
 postman delivering his parcel each month.
 He enjoyed getting everyone together and
 playing with his games and reading his
                                                THERE ARE CURRENTLY
 books.’ Carer of Year 5/6 boy.                 129 LOCAL AUTHORITIES
                                                ACROSS THE UK
‘Danielle really enjoys her parcels –           SUBSCRIBING TO
 it helps her because she finds concentrating   THE LETTERBOX CLUB
 difficult but I have noticed her reading the   WITH JUST UNDER
 books quietly to herself, which doesn’t
 happen often!!’ Carer of Year 3/4 girl.
                                                5,000 CHILDREN
                                                RECEIVING
‘Dylan reads every morning before               30,000 PARCELS
 school, he reads to Jack who is five.’         IN 2009.
 Carer of boy aged nine.

‘I read to my sisters, about vampire bats.
 They said, “George, what’s in that book?”
 and I said “Nothing much, unless you want
 me to read it to you?” and they said “Yes”.’
 Boy aged eight.

www.booktrust.org.uk
24

     3
     Chapter
25

Young
 people
   Reading for pleasure is often lost
when children start secondary school
as other interests fight for their leisure
 time and school work becomes more
           time consuming.
26

At this time of transition it is essential
that reading still has a place as a pleasurable
activity, chosen for fun, not just for
school work.

                            Enjoying books during these years is
     IN THE FIRST           important, and can offer young adults insight
     TWO YEARS OF           into the world around them, as well as relief
     THE PROGRAMME,         from stress and an enjoyable escape to other
     OVER 1.3 MILLION       worlds! Volunteers are deployed in a number
     CHILDREN RECEIVED      of Local Authorities; they offer valuable
                            support in delivering the programmes
     A BOOKED               and increased community cohesion via
     UP BOOK.               a worthwhile and rewarding activity
                            encouraging children to love books.

                            Booked Up
                            Booked Up promotes reading for pleasure
                            amongst the Year 7 age group by giving each
                            11-year-old in England the gift of a free book
     86% OF BOOKED          from a list of titles, each carefully selected
     UP COORDINATORS        to appeal to its pre-teen audience.
     SURVEYED IN 2008 SAW
     EVIDENCE THAT PUPILS   Coordinators in secondary schools manage
     WANTED TO READ         the programme and pupils are thrilled to
     MORE AS A RESULT       choose their own book. Schools often arrange
                            opportunities to swap with friends, or to
     OF BOOKED UP.          visit the school and local libraries. Some
                            keen children read their way through
                            the entire list.
27

  > The group of Everybody Writes                   > We have distributed approximately 9,000
    Enthusiasts has grown 700% in the                 Everybody Writes printed brochures to schools
    past year.                                        and Local Authorities across England.

The Teenage Prize                                   Everybody Writes
The Booktrust Teenage Prize is a national           Complementing Booktrust’s work to support
book prize that recognises and celebrates the       reading, Everybody Writes offers secondary
best in literature for teenagers. Building on the   teachers inspiring ideas and practical resources
Booked Up programme that reaches 670,000            to get young people excited about writing.
children annually, the Booktrust Teenage Prize      Writing games and model projects can be found
is introduced in Year 8, helping to maintain        on the website.
young people’s interest in reading.

Launched to recognise and celebrate
contemporary fiction written for teenagers,
the prize (which is judged by a mixed panel
of adults and teenagers) has in the words of
former judge Matt Whyman ‘fast become
the benchmark for quality young people’s
fiction in the UK’.

                                                    www.booktrust.org.uk
28

     4
     Chapter
29

Adults
 Reading is as beneficial for adults as it
is for children, opening us to new ideas
             and experiences.
30

Reading can provide a safe space in which to explore
themes and issues relevant to any society and enables
readers to speak more powerfully of the concerns and
aspirations of the present… reading the novels and
poetry of another country, another time and another
world from the reader’s own can get ‘under the
skin’ of peoples and cultures.

Prizes                                               Booktrust also runs Bookbite, an exciting
First awarded in 1996, the Orange Prize              project promoting reading and creative writing
for Fiction is the UK’s only book awards             to the over 60s, who now constitute over half
for fiction written by a woman. The Prize            the population. Through a targeted magazine,
celebrates excellence, originality and               and highly accessible website, Bookbite inspires
accessibility in women’s writing from                those who rarely or never engage with books to
throughout the world. The Orange Prize               get more out of reading and writing, whether
for New Writers was created in 2005.                 in traditional form, or using new technology.

The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, founded               Booktrust supports other projects that
67 years ago in honour of the writer John            encourage less-confident adults to engage
Llewellyn Rhys, who was killed in action             with books, such as The Booktrust Power of
in World War II, is open to British and              Reading Awards, as part of the NIACE Adult
Commonwealth writers of fiction, non-fiction         Learners awards.
and poetry, aged 35 or under, at the time
of publication.                                      Booktrust’s websites support reading at all
                                                     ages, including that of adults. With reviews,
The BBC National Short Story Award is the            resources and advice from our experts, there’s
world’s largest for a single short story. Aimed at   something to capture everyone’s imagination.
highlighting the importance of the short story
after many years of neglect, the ambition of
both the award and supporting campaign is
to expand opportunities for British writers,
readers and publishers of the short story.
The award aims to honour the country’s
finest authors in the form.
31
32

 Reading for pleasure:
 Reading for life

Together we touch the lives of children
and adults and together we encourage every
person on their reading journey, from babyhood
through primary and secondary years and on
to adulthood. In order to fully realise the
potential of the bookgifting programmes, we
call for Bookstart, Booktime, Booked Up and
The Letterbox Club to be embedded as a core
offer within every Local Authority’s Reading
Strategy and its Children and Young
People’s Plan.

Booktrust seeks to find new and creative ways
of inspiring all people with a love of reading and
writing and encourages you to join us in this
exciting journey.

www.booktrust.org.uk
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