Library staff joined Southend Adult Community College staff and community partners to celebrate the fantastic achievement of local adult learners who had successfully completed this years challenge.
This free scheme invites people to pick six reads and fill in a personal reading diary in order to receive a completer certificate. Southend is on track to claim another Gold Award from The Reading Agency, with 200 local learners set to finish the challenge by the 30th June 2015.
The celebration formed part of Adult Learners’ Week. Guest speakers at this special event included Stephen Lay, Principal at Southend Adult Community College (SACC), and The Mayor Councillor Andrew Moring, who presented successful Challenge completers with their certificates of achievement at a special ceremony held in The Forum Lecture Theatre.
The evening concluded with six lucky winners receiving a selection of new books and guests enjoying refreshments before having their photographs taken with the Mayor.
Southend Libraries – Leading on Reading
Southend’s outstanding work over the last five years with the Six Book Challenge was recently highlighted by The Reading Agency, the charity that co-ordinates the scheme at a national level. To read the case study, go to http://readingagency.org.uk/adults/impact/southend-libraries.html
Stephen Lay, Principal at Southend Adult Community College said “Southend Libraries and Southend Adult Community College (SACC) provide a great supportive partnership, and the Six Book Challenge is a highly successful method of engaging existing and potential learners in reading for pleasure as part of their wider skills development.”