Six Book Challenge 2014

Reading Agency vision

• That people’s attitudes to reading, both in print and online, are changed by taking part in the Six Book Challenge, whether or not they are already readers.

• Priority audience – those who struggle with the written word

• Also powerful for lapsed readers

Why?

• 5.1 million adults of working age are STILL at the level expected of an 11 year old (moved from 16% to 15% since 2003)

• 14.8 million adults would not achieve a GCSE at A* - C grade (improved from 39.5% to 28.5% since 2003)

2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline findings Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dec 2011

• 16-24 year olds in England are rated 22nd our of 24 countries for literacy.

• They have slightly worse skills than people aged between 55 and 65.

Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC), OECD, Oct 2013

Impact evidence

“The findings from practitioners and learners who took part in this project demonstrate that reading for pleasure supports the development of increased enjoyment, self-confidence, motivation and the

acquisition of functional literacy skills.”Sue Oakey, Practitioners leading research:

‘Weaving reading for pleasure into the Skills for Life adult literacy curriculum’ (NRDC 2007)

Creating a virtuous circle

Learners engaged in (more) text

Learners enjoy

reading

Learnerspractise

skills

Learners improve

skills

Learners want to

read more

Support from The Reading Agency

• Advocacy for libraries’ role• Links with national initiatives eg

Quick Reads, BBC campaigns, World Book Night• R & D – reading for pleasure at Entry Level, potential

for using digital games• Reading Groups for Everyone, Mood-Boosting Books• Practical schemes – Six Book Challenge

What is the Six Book Challenge?

• An invitation to read six books or other ‘materials’ and record reading in a diary

• Library support for choosing what to read• Creative activity such as reading groups• Incentives to increase retention• Certificate for those who read six books

(participation certificate for less)• A proven way of engaging and motivating adults to

improve their literacy skills

Six Book Challenge 2008-13

2008 total 7000

2009 total 9000

2010 total

13,500

2011 total

18,000

2012 total

23,500

2013 total

35,000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Public librariesCollegesPrisonsWorkplaces

2013 headline results• 35,000 people registered

• 13,000 through public libraries and partners• 13,500 in FE and sixth form colleges• 7000 in prisons• 1500 in workplaces

• 90% of survey respondents said they felt more confident about reading

• 65 organisations achieved more than 50 completers

Adult and community learning“I feel like I have got through a barrier. Now when I read a book, I can concentrate. I owe a lot to my tutor. Reading has given me something to focus on, and I really enjoy it.”Linda Shaw, 61, WEA learner in Kirklees

Prisons• “I wouldn’t have read any books, let alone six,

without the Challenge.” Dylan, HMYOI Feltham

• “The Six Book Challenge is our main source for getting people into education.”Pat Gardener, Life Skills and Employment Manager, HMYOI Deerbolt, where the prison librarian achieved 115 completers in 2013

Prisons

• “Seven out of ten of our prisoners say they have a learning or literacy problem. We are convinced that doing the Six Book Challenge encourages them to come into our library and use the facilities and get back into education. And we all believe that not only does it assist prisoners whilst they are in prison, but that when they leave, it has a positive effect on an ex-prisoner’s ability to remain an ex-prisoner, and not re-offend.”

Nick Walmsley, Head of Corruption Prevention & Counter Terrorism, HMP Pentonville, which achieved a gold award with 236 completers in 2013

Workplaces

UNISON learning rep Andrew Jennison has led the Six Book Challenge at De Monfort University in Leicester for three years, achieving a gold award with 167 completers in 2013 including porters, administrators, cleaners and security staff.

Colleges

20-year-old Ataullah Omar from Aghanistan had never read a book in his native language before completing the Challenge at Northampton College which was the top performer in 2013 with 283 completers.

• "We are delighted to see a 12% increase in our A*- C grades in GCSE English results – surely proof that participation in the Six Book Challenge really can help to develop skills as well as enjoyment."

John Bexson, Deputy Principal, Northampton College, where the Challenge was rolled out to all Functional Skills and GCSE English students in 2013

Colleges“Reading takes me away to other places. If I am feeling bored or down, it gives me a break from what's going on in my head and lets me relax. It helps me with my studying too. Before I read regularly, I used to just skim over things.”

Catriona Tutt, who completed the Challenge while on a 'Stepping Stones' course at Fife College which had 151 completers in 2013.

Colleges

"I will keep on reading for pleasure: I've just ordered another new book to read. Reading comes into everything you do in life - you aren't going to get very far without it.”Declan Lapham, 22, a building services student who started his Challenge with newspaper articles about sport at Coleg Sir Gâr in Carmarthenshire which achieved a bronze award for 75 completers in 2013.

Partnership working

• Public library services – 66% involvement in 2013 • Adult & community learning – strong SBC library authorities

show engagement of high numbers• Workplaces - engagement by TUC unionlearn, individual

unions and some employers• Prison education – around 100 prisons and YOIs• FE college libraries – over 100 colleges took part in 2013

mainly using their own libraries/learning resource centres • Family learning, children’s centres – libraries running the Six

Book Challenge alongside the Summer Reading Challenge• Health – mental health groups, NHS Trusts• Sport – Rugby League World Cup 2013

Six Book Challenge 2014

Six Book Challenge 2014

• Support from Martina Cole as Ambassador• Packs to promote the Challenge and run it with 50

people January – June 2014• Discounts for multiple packs and reading diaries• Bilingual materials for Wales• Prize draws for completers• Prize draws for colleges, prisons and workplaces –

author visits• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme

NEW Six Book Challenge website

• www.readingagency.org.uk/sixbookchallenge • Sponsored by mobile company Three• Adding a digital dimension to the Six Book Challenge • Participants can create a an online profile, log, rate

and review what they read• Search for next read in our unique Find a read

database – nearly 700 items (pre-Entry – Level 2)• Printed books PLUS ebooks, audio, large print,

newspapers, digital games

Six Book Challenge projected totals 2014-17

2013 total 35,000

2014 total 37,750

2015 total 40,000

2016 total 45,000

2017 total 50,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Public librariesCollegesPrisonsWorkplaces

National contacts• Genevieve Clarke (general)

genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk0871 750 2104 / 07500 010 620

• David Kendall (prisons and workplaces)mail@davidkendall.co.uk01225 862351 / 07814 060572

• Daniel Colagiovanni (purchase enquiries)daniel.colagiovanni@readingagency.org.uk0207 324 2547