'READING AHEAD' CREATES A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY


More than 300,000 young people and adults have so far been reached by a programme that expands horizons through reading. By Debbie Hicks


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eading Ahead supports young people and adults by changing their perception of reading, opening up opportunities and building their confidence. Research shows that when we inspire people to


read for pleasure they benefit from far greater opportunities in everyday life, education and employment. Reading Ahead, run by the Reading Agency, is the gateway to these opportunities. The programme is designed to help people improve their reading skills and develop a love of reading. Reading Ahead is run through public libraries, adult learning organisations, colleges, workplaces and prisons. The project invites participants to pick six reads and record, rate and review them in a personal reading diary. After completing their diary they receive a certificate and can enter a national prize draw.


Since launching in 2008, Reading Ahead has reached well


over 300,000 people. In 2017-18 it reached 38,500 young people and adults – 6,500 through public libraries working with local partners, 18,500 in adult learning organisations, further education and sixth form colleges, 12,000 in prisons and 1,500 in workplaces, mainly led by unions under the Trades Union Congress’s unionlearn banner. Around 100 prisons across the UK take part in Reading Ahead each year. We produce materials specifically suited for use in prisons and the charity, Give a Book, provides a free pocket dictionary to prisoners who complete the challenge. The programme isn’t just about books – it’s about newspapers, magazines and websites too. The aim is for participants to challenge themselves to try something new and discover that reading can be a pleasure in the process. Our evaluation shows that Reading Ahead: • Boosts confidence in reading; • Increases enjoyment in reading; • Increases library use; • Results in people reading more. If you’d like to take part in Reading Ahead or run it in your


organisation, get in touch by emailing info@readingagency. org.uk


Debbie Hicks MBE is creative director at The Reading Agency.


CASE STUDY HOW NINA'S LIFE WAS TURNED AROUND


Nina Morrison (pictured above), a student at Warrington & Vale Royal College, found reading intimidating before starting Reading Ahead. “I often just pretended to read,” she says. “I have always struggled


to read as I have dyslexia. I struggled with stories as I didn’t understand what I’d read.” Encouraged to find books that were dyslexia-friendly as part of the Reading Ahead challenge, Nina’s confidence grew. “For the first time I actually enjoyed reading,” she explains.


Reading Ahead has also benefited Nina in exams. “I am more confident because I can focus for 15 to 20 minutes close reading the source texts, and this has helped me make sense of the texts and the exam questions and given me more confidence to answer the questions,” she says. Reading Ahead has even helped Nina outside college. “I’ve just got a better part-time job, and this is because I’m better able to deal with things I have to read.”


CASE STUDY STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM A GOOD READ


Claire Melhado is an English teacher at Warrington & Vale Royal College, which runs Reading Ahead in partnership with Livewire public libraries. The college caters for students aged 16 to 18 and adults. All English teachers deliver Reading Ahead; they use it for students taking GCSEs and Functional Skills courses. “Many students tell us they enjoy the quiet time when they can sit


and read. We’ve seen improvements in coursework and GCSE work,” Claire explains.


“Reading has contributed to calming learners down and promotes


readiness to learn, especially when run at the start of the lessons. Students enjoy choosing books and not being forced to read something they don’t want to.” In the coming year Claire plans to build on the success of Reading Ahead at her college by including all adults taking Improve your English classes. She says the college is also looking at starting a book club.


InTUITIONENGLISH • AUTUMN 2019 13


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