Ref: tn_8108
Date: 21st August 2008

Wigan Council’s chief executive in the hot seat

JOYCE Redfearn already sits in one of the hottest seats in Wigan.

But on Wednesday (August 27) Wigan Council’s chief executive faces chairing one of her toughest meetings yet… keeping a set of toddlers entertained!

Ms Redfearn is the next in a long-line up of local celebrities taking to the story teller’s chair as part of Wigan borough’s celebration of the National Year of Reading.

The storytelling sessions are part of the borough’s biggest ever reading campaign, organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust with support from partners across Wigan Council.

Ms Redfearn follows broadcaster and writer Stuart Maconie, Hollyoaks actress Leah Hackett and Leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith who have all read to groups of children under five years of age since the project was launched in April.

A reading chair has been specially commissioned as part of the borough’s National Year of Reading celebrations and was 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 has a different theme and on August 27 Ms Redfearn will be reading a book about ‘turtles’ to a group of under fives at the Wiend Children’s Centre.

Andrew Pickup, Children’s Operations Manager for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust said: “It’s imperative that we show how important it is that adults read to children.

“You’re never too young to learn from books and share a love of reading.

“Reading to young children has a positive impact on them, especially when they start to learn their alphabet or read by themselves, because they’re already used to books and stories.”

There are currently around 100,000 library members across Wigan Borough, which is about 1 in 3 people.

As part of the National Year of Reading Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust are hoping that figure will rise dramatically so that more people in Wigan and Leigh can reap the benefits of becoming a library member.

For more information visit www.wlct.org/libraries

-ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please contact David Taylor on 01942 486937

Photographs: Photographers and journalists are welcome to attend the start of the session at the Wiend Children’s Centre, Millgate, Wigan on Wednesday 27th August at 1.45pm. Contact David Taylor on 01942 486937

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.


 

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