Two publishers and three authors today announce Connecting Stories, a campaign to support children’s literacy across the North East. Led by the National Literacy Trust’s Read North East campaign and funded by Arts Council England, it aims to increase children and young people’s access to literary experiences and books.
Authors Sam Copeland, Burhana Islam and Gabrielle Kent will be championing reading and creative writing in the region through inspiring visits into virtual classrooms during lockdown, and supporting the creative writing competition. Publishers Penguin Random House UK and Knights Of will donate books help inspire the next generation of readers and writers.
Children across the North East will be invited to take part in a creative writing competition with a unique theme, to be announced shortly. Entries will be displayed part of one of 19 Connecting Stories anthologies and displayed in North East community’s cultural institutions. The competition launches on 1 February and is open to children age 7-11 years.
Sam Copeland, Author, says: “I am so excited to be part of Connecting Stories with the National Literacy Trust, helping to inspire a love of reading in children across the North East. With the turn of a page children are able to explore magical new worlds and learn about the world around them. I can’t wait to help families discover a life-long love of reading to support their literacy and improve their life chances.”
Burhana Islam, Author, says: “Having grown up in Newcastle, I am so happy to be part of the Connecting Stories project with Read North East and the National Literacy Trust. As a secondary school teacher, I see first-hand the transformative effect reading can have on a child’s confidence, wellbeing and ultimately their life chances. Reading and writing is a vital way for young people to learn about other people’s stories and explore their own. I hope this project will inspire a love of reading in children and young people across the North East to support their literacy and ignite their curiosity about the stories around them.”
Gabrielle Kent, Author, says: “I am so pleased that Connecting Stories is coming to the North East and that I am going to be part of it. It’s so important that books and stories are available and accessible to all children to support their literacy, wellbeing and their future. I hope this project allows us to inspire thousands of local children and young people to find a love of reading that will last a life time.”
James Kingett, Programme Manager, North East, at the National Literacy Trust, says: “The Connecting Stories initiative will develop both new and existing relationships with organisations and businesses across the North East to strengthen the culture of reading across the region. The Hubs focused approach to this programme ensures that the children most affected by the impacts of COVID-19 are supported and inspired to engage with reading and writing. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of Connecting Stories across the North East region.”
Sarah Crown, Director of Literature at Arts Council England, says: “Connecting Stories is a brilliant, creative way of supporting children’s literacy in communities suffering disproportionately from the impact of COVID-19. The commitment of publishers big and small to helping children and young people connect with stories and the authors is hugely exciting, and will offer inspiration to children and families around the country, as well as a means of celebrating the unique communities and resources in local areas. “Arts Council England is proud to support this work, and excited by the opportunities it offers, both now and in the future.”
Connecting Stories will be delivered across 14 local areas and a total of 18 publishers and 32 children’s authors are involved. For more information, please visit: https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/connecting-stories/
