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Volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge

This news article was published more than a year ago. Some of the information may no longer be accurate.

Published: 25/04/2014


​Volunteers will have the chance to get involved in a variety of activities from talking to children about the books they are reading and helping them to choose what to read next, to helping with the summer activities and creating displays in the library. The closing date for applications is Monday 16 June. Volunteers must be aged 14 or over.

Eighteen-year-old Tim Moller, from Filton, explained why he got involved: “Volunteering for the Summer Reading Challenge was a fantastic way to give something back to a community I have benefited so much from. It was the Summer Reading Challenge that got me and my family ten years ago to regularly use the library, and its resources have since become an intrinsic part of my life.

“It was so nice being a part of the beginning of similar journeys for other young people and really engaging with them about what they have read. In volunteering for the Summer Reading Challenge you see the passion for reading born. You gain valuable skills in communication through interacting with young people and their parents and I really felt my confidence grew as a result.”

Being a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer is also a great opportunity for young people to get new skills and experience for their CVs. Tim said: “As well as the enjoyment you get out of engaging with young readers, the Summer Reading Challenge acted as a springboard for many other things. I found that it’s perfect volunteering material for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and in my case was also a stepping stone into being included in the library ‘pool’ of staff drafted in to cover absences. This for a student is the perfect part-time job as it allows me to work when I am able to.”

Martin Burton, Community Cultural Services Manager for South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Volunteering for the Summer Reading Challenge offers young people a unique and powerful volunteering opportunity to gain confidence, life skills and experience team work. There’s nothing more inspiring for a child than having a teenage volunteer from their own community spurring them on to read.”

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge runs from 12 July to 13 September, and the theme is Mythical Maze. Once again children are challenged to read six books to collect their very own medal and certificate.

Over 7000 children in South Gloucestershire took part in Creepy House, the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge.

For more information on how to get involved ask a member of staff at any South Gloucestershire library, phone 01454 868451 or email emma.fisher@southglos.gov.uk


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