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A special ‘Year of Reading’ was launched in
Wigan and Leigh on Thursday with the support of writer and broadcaster
Stuart Maconie and Hollyoaks star Leah Hackett.
Wigan Borough’s biggest ever reading campaign is organised by Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust with support from partners across Wigan
Council. The campaign is part the National Year of Reading launched by
the government earlier this year.
Stuart and Leah joined young children and their families at the Wiend
Children’s Centre in Wigan and later Leigh Library for an exclusive
storytelling session. The session took place in a specially commissioned
reading chair designed and built by local artist Mark Mennell.
Storytelling is just part of the campaign which aims to get more people
across the borough reading regularly. Each month there will be a series
of different themed events for people to get involved in, ranging from
‘mind and body’ to ‘rhythm and rhyme’.
April’s theme is ‘Read All About It’. To celebrate the Trust’s libraries
team has launched their own booklet of book reviews and recommended
reads. The reviews are written by local children, adults and library
staff and are available across the borough’s 16 libraries.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Executive Director Pete Gascoigne said:
“Whether it is books or blogs, we want to encourage reading of all kinds
over the year and beyond. Reading can kick start people’s education and
open doors to many opportunities it also helps to forge greater
understanding among local communities. Around one in ten adults in our
borough have a reading age of 7. That is better than the national
average but we believe we can do better.”
Patron of Wigan Libraries Stuart Maconie said: “As a patron of Wigan
Libraries, an author and self confessed book lover, I am thrilled at the
prospect of being here to launch this special year of reading. Reading
is one of the few pleasures in life that offers no prejudice, no age
restriction and no cost - the only limitation being your level of
imagination. Our libraries offer a free passport to wherever your mind
will take you, I would encourage one and all to get involved this year,
visit a library, and start turning those pages- you never know where it
might lead!”
Leah, a former library assistant at Tyldesley Library, said: “Despite my
busy lifestyle I still make time for a good read. Whether it’s a
magazine, a website, or a good book, reading can put you on the path to
personal success. I hope this year will help kick start many people’s
love of reading. Reading helps you connect, think, judge, decide and
contribute. If you read, everything is within your reach. We want
everyone to have a chance to get involved so there will be all kinds of
events tailored for all kinds of people. Keep your eye out and get
involved.”
There are many ways to get involved with the Year of Reading. Local
information and events will be available at
www.wlct.org/nyr or find out more by visiting one of the
borough’s 16 libraries.
Libraries offer a range of free services such as access to the Internet,
book loans and learning opportunities. Each month hundreds of book
lovers get together at libraries across Wigan Borough as part of 12
reading groups. The groups offer a chance for people whose friends or
family may not read a chance to share their experiences with others. For
more information about the reading groups contact your local library or
visit www.wlct.org/libraries.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
National Year of Reading: The National Year of Reading (NYR) is a
nationwide campaign, promoting the power of reading to change the lives
of individuals and communities. The NYR will celebrate reading for
purpose and pleasure and the reading of all texts across all media. It
will create opportunities to motivate the wider community to start
reading – or to read more.
Activities in the National Year of Reading will include the following
themes:
• April: Read all about it!
• May: Mind and Body.
• June: Reading escapes.
• July: Rhythm and Rhyme.
• August: Read the Game.
• September: You are what you read.
• October: Word of Mouth.
• November: Screen reads.
• December: Write the future.
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Leah Hackett and Stuart Maconie
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