A Glasgow shopping centre has hosted storytelling event sessions to help children enjoy reading more.
This comes after research found that “enjoyment of reading” among eight to 18-year-olds in the UK has decreased to its lowest point in nearly 20 years.
The Glasgow Fort shopping centre organised the events as part of the Young Readers Programme.
More than 290 children from Cranhill and St Paul’s primary schools listened to stories from a professional storyteller and took part in a range of activities including creating bug boxes to be installed around Glasgow Fort.
The children were also given a free book of their choice at the end.
(Image: Glasgow Fort)
Phil Goodman, centre director at Glasgow Fort, said: “Supporting our community is at the heart of what we do, so we are incredibly proud of the Young Readers Programme and all the local children and families we have been able to support over many years.
“It’s such a rewarding initiative, hearing how the children are inspired by the stories and activities and seeing just how excited they are to take their own book home.
“This is a programme that really makes a difference and we’re so pleased to be a part of it for another brilliant year.”
The programme has supported more than 3,200 school children and seen over 9,800 books given across Glasgow since it began thirteen years ago.
The initiative is especially designed to help with the development of children in underprivileged areas by giving them better access to books.
According to the National Literacy Trust, fewer young people who received free school meals (FSMs) said they enjoyed reading when compared to their peers who did not receive free meals.
(Image: Glasgow Fort)
Martin Galway, head of school programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “Reading has an ongoing powerful role in many children’s lives and is crucial in building confidence and improving literacy skills.
“Through the Young Readers Programme, we have partnered with British Land for the last 13 years – giving children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to experience enchanting storytelling events, and to choose books that speak to their interests and passions.
“Our goal is to spark a love of reading that will stay with them forever, which in turn will provide them with essential life skills they need to succeed and reach their own goals.”