The second batch of National Year of Reading cash awards will be announced later this month. Pounds 400,000 was shared between 28 projects in April and Pounds 350,000 has still to be distributed. Some awards will be announced this month and some in January.
Plans to help socially excluded 13 to 16-year-olds benefit from the year are afoot. Well Worth Reading, which campaigns to promote contemporary literature through libraries, is inviting applications from potential flagship groups with plans for projects that involve librarians and youth workers. Examples could be work with pupil referral units, young offenders or young carers. The leading projects will receive Pounds 500 plus training and support. Well Worth Reading plans to compile a national database of work in this field and is seeking funding to extend it. Details from Miranda McKearney. Fax: 01962 853747.
Reading is Fundamental, which has distributed 50,000 new books to 15,000 children over the past two years, will launch its sixth Book FUNd this month with help from a Pounds 24,000 Year of Reading grant. Book FUNds target specific age groups within a local authority. The latest one means that all Year 1 and Year 4 children in 33 Exeter primary schools will be able to choose and own new books. Contact RIF for more details: co National Literacy Trust, Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ. Details are also on the NLT website: www.literacytrust.org.uk The Federation of Children’s Book Groups - a nationwide network of enthusiasts - can help new groups get started with part of its Pounds 20,000 award. The average group size is 15 to 45 (some are as big as 300) and many are based around schools. Contact: Sinead Kromer, 9 Westroyd, Pudsey, West Yorkshire LS28 8HZ.
e-mail: FCBG@mcmail.com website: www.FCBG.mcmail.com
