Sports Star Encourages Youngsters’ Reid-ing

A top sporting star has joined families in kicking about ideas on the importance of reading at a special event at the Stadium of Light. Families involved in a national scheme that aims to get children reading more, were treated to a special visit from Sunderland AFC midfielder Andy Reid, the club’s reading champion. The event was arranged as part of Sunderland’s Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS) project which runs weekly activities in Sunderland libraries for families to come along and enjoy reading together. Families that have regularly been involved in these sessions were rewarded for their dedication with the opportunity to meet the local hero after taking part in a number of fun reading-related activities arranged by staff from libraries. As the nominated reading champion for Sunderland AFC, Reid spoke about the importance of being able to read well and how enjoyable a pastime it can be, before signing autographs for the children and posing for photographs with them. Stephen Dodd, of the Sunderland City’s Library Service, said: “All the children who have been coming along to the regular library activities running throughout the city have already made noticeable improvements in their reading abilities. It was great to give them a reward for all the hard work they’ve put in – they couldn’t contain their excitement when they met Andy Reid and were thrilled to get his autograph.” Raj Singh, Extended Services Manager for Children’s Services within Sunderland City Council, added: “Developing an appetite for reading from an early age is essential and helps a child to thrive throughout their education and later career. Premier League Reading Stars is a fantastic way of inspiring children to get into books and develop their literacy skills. We are delighted to see so many families getting involved and starting to read regularly together.” As an extension of Sunderland’s Playing for Success programme, Premier League Reading Stars uses football to help encourage more families to enjoy reading and use libraries more often. As well as getting the chance to read traditional children’s titles, youngsters are introduced to books chosen by Reading Champions from every Premier League club in the country, including players like Shay Given and David James. National results from the 2009 project showed that 93 per cent of children on the scheme said they would read more regularly in the future as a result of PLRS. Playing for Success is a Department for Education initiated study support scheme run in Sunderland by the City Council in partnership with SAFC Foundation. The programme helps to improve attainment, and often has a profound motivational effect on the youngsters taking part, particularly those who maybe struggling within the traditional learning environment.

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