About Books Out Loud
Our research reveals that when children and young people enjoy reading and read daily in their free time, their reading skills, aptitude for learning, wellbeing, empathy and confidence benefit.
However, too many young people are missing out on these benefits as the number of children in the UK reading for enjoyment is at an all-time low.
Amid a reading for pleasure crisis, we are launching an initiative inviting volunteers to inspire the young people they work with to fall in love with books by reading aloud to them.
Books Out Loud taps into the powerful influence that role models can have on reading, encouraging volunteers to provide a gateway to books through listening for the young people they work with.
Who can sign up?
We are looking for people who already work with children or young people in their community to sign up and make reading aloud part of their regular activities with them. Think sports and gym coaches, youth club and scout or girl guide leaders, soft play and baby sensory group leaders etc. They can already be Literacy Champions or completely new contacts. They don’t have to be expert storytellers – their understanding of and empathy to their young people is more important.
Anyone who signs up can receive access to our online information event and a dedicated handbook to support them to read aloud regularly to their group. Find out more and sign up: literacytrust.org.uk/books-out-loud
Kind regards,
Robyn Macklin
Family Hubs Project Officer