Six Book Challenge 2013
Reading Agency vision
• That people’s attitudes to reading, both in
print and online, are changed by taking part
in the Six Book Challenge, whether or not
they are already readers.
• Priority audience – those who struggle with
the written word
• Also powerful for lapsed readers
Why?
• 5.1 million adults of working age are STILL at
the level expected of an 11 year old (moved
from 16% to 15% since 2003)
• 14.8 million adults would not achieve a GCSE
at A* - C grade (improved from 39.5% to
28.5% since 2003)
2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline findings
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dec 2011
Creating a virtuous circle
Learners
want to
read more
Learners
engaged in
(more) text
Learners
improve
skills
Learners
enjoy
reading
Learners
practise
skills
Support from The Reading Agency
• Advocacy for libraries’ role
• Links with national initiatives eg
Quick Reads, BBC campaigns, World Book Night
• R & D – reading for pleasure at Entry Level, potential
for using digital games
• Reading Groups for Everyone, Mood-Boosting Books
• www.readingagency.org.uk/findaread
• Practical schemes – Six Book Challenge
What is the Six Book Challenge?
• An invitation to read six books or other ‘materials’
and record reading in a diary
• Library support for choosing what to read
• Creative activity such as reading groups
• Incentives to increase retention
• Certificate for those who read six books
(participation certificate for less)
• A proven way of engaging and motivating adults to
improve their literacy skills
Growth of Six Book Challenge
14000
12000
10000
8000
Public libraries
Colleges
6000
Prisons
4000
Workplaces
2000
0
2008 total 2009 total 2010 total 2011 total 2012 total
7000
9000
13,500
18,000
23,500
Adult and community education
“I’ve now read a lot
more than six books. I
didn’t read much
before but I am going
to keep going to
classes, keep reading
and keep going to the
library to get books
out.”
Brian Bates, 61, an
adult learner in
Derbyshire
Prisons
• “I wouldn’t have read any books, let alone six,
without the Challenge.”
Dylan, HMYOI Feltham
• “The Challenge has helped our students to
understand the value of a good book and how it can
help with spelling, punctuation and improve on your
vocabulary.”
Martine Fontenelle, Literacy Tutor, HMP
Wandsworth
Workplaces
“At first I thought I
couldn’t do the
Challenge because I
wasn’t very good at
reading. But it is really
good, it helps you
along, and it has
definitely helped me.”
Yvonne Hirst, 51, a
cleaning supervisor at
De Montfort University,
who was supported by
UNISON to take part
Colleges
“I’d never been in a
library before and I
hated reading! Now
I’m feeling confident
about reading and
I’m finding it easier
the more I do.”
Tristan Wrighton,
17, a student at
Northampton
College who
downloaded books
on to his phone
“We’ve piloted the Six Book Challenge with our lower level
learners and found it to have a significant impact on their
achievement. So much so that we’re now going to roll out it to
all Level 1 learners as part of their teaching and learning which
will include regular trips to the college library. We’re also
building it into the syllabus for all Level 2 Functional Skills and
GCSE English students.”
John Bexson, Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Student
Services, Northampton College
Six Book Challenge 2013
Six Book Challenge 2013
• Packs to promote the Challenge and run it with 50
people January – June 2013
• Support from Andy McNab as Ambassador
• Discounts for multiple packs and reading diaries
• Bilingual materials for Wales
• Link with Rugby League World Cup 2013
• Prize draws for completers
• Prize draws for colleges, prisons and workplaces –
author visits
• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme
Partnerships
• Public library services – 60% involvement in 2012
• Adult & community learning – strong SBC library authorities
show engagement of high numbers
• Workplaces - engagement by TUC unionlearn, individual
unions and some employers
• Prison education – around 100 prisons and YOIs
• FE college libraries – nearly 100 colleges took part in 2012
using their own libraries/learning resource centres
• Family learning, children’s centres – libraries running the Six
Book Challenge alongside the Summer Reading Challenge
• Health – mental health groups, NHS Trusts
National contacts
• Genevieve Clarke (general)
genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk
0871 750 2104 / 07500 010 620
• David Kendall (prisons and workplaces)
mail@davidkendall.co.uk
01225 862351 / 07814 060572
• Daniel Colagiovanni (purchase enquiries)
daniel.colagiovanni@readingagency.org.uk
0207 324 2547