2008 National Year of Reading

The 2008 National Year of Reading is a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It aims to help build a greater national passion for reading in England – for children, families and adult learners alike.

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, joined the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, children, writers, and reading champions at 10 Downing Street on 8 January 2008 at [ [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0002 launch of the National Year of Reading] ] . He called for every employer, school, library, college and local authority to get involved.

Purpose

The year aims to encourage people to read in businesses, homes, and communities around the country, providing new opportunities to read and helping people to access help and support through schools and libraries.

Partners

The National Year of Reading is being led by the National Literacy Trust, [http://www.readingagency.org.uk/ The Reading Agency] and a consortium which comprises:

* Arts Council England * [http://www.booktrust.org.uk/Home Booktrust] * [http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/cfl/index.asp Campaign for Learning] * [http://www.clpe.co.uk/ Centre for Literacy in Primary Education] * [http://www.continyou.org.uk/ ContinYou] * Museums, Libraries and Archives Council * The National Youth Agency * NIACE * [http://www.vrh.org.uk/ Volunteer Reading Help]

Monthly Themes

Activities in the National Year of Reading will include the following themes:

• April: Read all about it! Links to newspapers and magazines; library membership campaign.

• May: Mind and Body. Reading and learning at work. The knock-on benefits of reading.

• June: Reading escapes. Holiday and summer reads.

• July: Rhythm and Rhyme. Poems, poetry and lyrics.

• August: Read the Game. The influence of sport and how this can help promote reading.

• September: You are what you read. Cultural, personal and local identity.

• October: Word of Mouth. Storytelling, reading out loud, reading together, reading aloud, live literature.

• November: Screen reads. Exploring the diversity of reading and writing; scripts, TV and films.

• December: Write the future. Writing, texting, blogging etc.

Values

Shared values underpin the consortium and sit at the heart of the year. These are:

* Impact – both personal and social * Celebration – positive, enjoyable experiences * Diversity – of reading experiences and communities * Participation – co-production of the year with communities and partners * Creativity in development and delivery * Legacy – to create a lasting change in lives and systems

References

External links

* [http://www.yearofreading.org.uk National Year of Reading] website.
* [http://www.literacytrust.org.uk National Literacy Trust] website.
* [http://www.heinemann.co.uk/nyr Heinemann NYR Website] - UK publisher supporting the NYR