MORE than 100 primary school pupils from across Tameside have been recognised for their efforts to inspire a love of reading after taking part in this year’s Reading Champions programme.
The annual initiative, organised by Tameside Council’s libraries team, culminated in a celebration event at Dukinfield Town Hall, where children were presented with certificates and goody bags in recognition of their hard work.
Schools from across the borough signed up to the scheme, selecting groups of pupils to become Reading Champions. Throughout the programme, the children led a range of activities aimed at encouraging reading for pleasure among their classmates.
Their projects included creating eye-catching book displays, exploring different literary genres, helping others choose books, writing reviews and designing promotional posters. Many also hosted school assemblies to share their enthusiasm for reading.
The pupils connected with Reading Champions from other schools through online sessions, exchanging ideas and learning from one another while helping to build confidence and encourage reading both in school and at home.
The celebration event also included a “book tasting” activity, giving the children the chance to discover a variety of authors and books in a fun, interactive way.
Reflecting on the programme, one participant said they had “learnt skills to introduce more people to reading and make it fun”, while another said they had developed valuable “teamwork and friendship” skills.
Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture praised everyone involved.
Councillor Leanne Feeley said: “It’s fantastic to see the Reading Champions so involved in both the programme and the event. Their enthusiasm has been wonderful to see, and encouraging a love of reading among our younger residents is incredibly important. Well done to everyone involved!”
The Reading Champions programme aims to help children become reading ambassadors within their schools, encouraging classmates to discover new books and helping to create a lasting culture of reading for pleasure.