Fly away with a
Book!
by Hattie Gordon of Reading Force
R
eading Force is the first national reading initiative for Service families and is free to
every Service family to take part.
One of the best things about reading books is sharing and talking about them with family and friends and that’s what Reading Force is all about! The scheme encourages family members or loved ones to read the same book and talk about it, whether they are at home together or separated by deployment, training or for any other reason. The idea is that children, parents, grandparents and siblings all reading the same book is a fun way to read and boosts communication, particularly when separated.
The scheme was founded by Dr Alison Baverstock, academic, author, mother and service wife of 30 years. Alison found that when she and her husband were separated by deployments, some of their best phone conversations were when they were both reading the same book. She soon involved her four children in shared reading. Alison realised many service families could enjoy and benefit from reading and talking about a book.
After families have read the book they fill a provided scrapbook with their thoughts about the book. Families can submit their scrapbook to the Reading Force competition and win some lovely prices prizes such as family theatre tickets. Every family who
enters the competition receives a certificate and wins a book for taking part.
The Edmonds family from Oxfordshire have taken part. Dad Michael is in the RAF. Michael was at home with his family when Reading Force was launched, and his two daughters decided the family would read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
Before they had finished the book however Michael was posted to Afghanistan, so they read the second half of the book together over Skype. Chloe and Nicole said it was difficult to find the time because Dad was working shifts, but they did manage some Skype calls and said these were special times.
Chloe, Nicole, and their Mum, Marie, completed the Reading Force scrapbook at home, filling it with their thoughts about the book, photos, drawings and notes. Their family scrapbook was so impressive that they won one of the top scrapbook competition prizes and were invited to watch a Hello! Magazine celebrity photo shoot. Michael was home the week of the shoot, so the whole family were able to enjoy their prize together. Marie says her daughters still talk about the book and their prize.
The Duchess of Cornwall with Alison Baverstock and Elaine Boorman of Reading Force at Highgrove 38 Envoy Spring 2014
The initiative has encouraged some parents and children who have never read together before to enjoy sharing and talking about a book. Families who have been separated by postings have read to one another over Skype, or sent e-blueys about the chapters they are reading. One 12-year-old participant said, “This was the best father/daughter experience ever.” Many families have said
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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