Local MP Julian Knight urged parents, grandparents, and carers to take their children to the local library to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) whilst attending a special event in Parliament to support the scheme last week.
Rolling out across England and Wales on Saturday 14th July, the SRC is a unique partnership between libraries across the country and the Reading Agency, a charity which aims to inspire people of all ages to read more.
Last year over three quarters of a million children took part – including more than 4,000 in Solihull – by borrowing, reading and talking about their favourite books. This year's Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Mischief Makers’, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the much-loved comic, Beano.
Commenting on the news, Julian Knight said:
“I’m delighted to support this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Not only does it offer an inclusive, free, and most importantly fun way of encouraging children to keep reading, but the Reading Agency also offers young people valuable volunteering experience too.
“Research shows that reading for pleasure plays a big part in setting up young people for success in later life, and I am very pleased that thousands of Solihull children took part last year. Let’s make this year’s turnout even better!”