Thousands of children join Summer Reading Challenge in South Gloucestershire

Over 5,500 kids joined South Gloucestershire's Summer Reading Challenge

More than 5,500 children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at South Gloucestershire Libraries, reading thousands of books during the school, summer holidays.

The Summer Reading Challenge increases children’s reading engagement and confidence, supporting their wellbeing and helping them to thrive. Libraries and The Reading Agency partnered with leading arts charity ‘Create’ for this year’s challenge named ‘Marvellous Makers’, to celebrate kids’ creativity and storytelling abilities.

Primary school children from across South Gloucestershire took part by reading books of their choice during the holidays and collected incentives including free swim vouchers, and packets of seeds to plant. There was also a mini challenge which was specially designed for pre-school children to help prepare them for their first day at school.

South Gloucestershire Libraries delivered outreach sessions along with Turtle CYP this summer to bring the Summer Reading Challenge to children taking part in the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF). The HAF Programme is also offered by the council to keep children fed and active through the school, summer holidays.

To celebrate the success of everyone who took part this year, chair of South Gloucestershire Council, councillor Franklin Owusu-Antwi, and cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, councillor Sean Rhodes attended a special event at Bradley Stoke Library to meet a group of local children and present them with medals and certificates.

Councillor Owusu-Antwi said: “I’m delighted to present children and volunteers with their well-deserved medals and certificates for taking part in this year's Summer Reading Challenge. It’s a wonderful, annual event that keeps so many of our children engaged in reading throughout the school, summer holidays when reading levels can dip. It also encourages children to read for pleasure and helps them return to school ready to learn.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting the children and their families and hearing about their positive experiences and enjoyment of the Summer Reading Challenge. Thank you to the Library Service, volunteers and all the families who have taken part this year to support children’s reading.”

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers were on hand throughout the summer to encourage and support children taking part. Rhiannon Hines, who volunteered this year and attended the celebration event, said: “As a volunteer I have been able to pass on the wonders of books to children. The Summer Reading Challenge is a beautiful adventure.”

A parent of a child who took part this year, said: “This year’s Summer Reading Challenge was really helpful to motivate my child to read more complex books.”

Visit www.southglos.gov.uk/childrenslibrary to find out more about this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and library services for children, young people and families.