This document provides an overview of Read Manchester, an initiative to promote reading for pleasure across the city. It aims to bring together existing reading programs under one umbrella brand rather than reinventing activities. The campaign focuses on getting people to read for just 6 minutes, as research shows this can reduce stress levels by 70%. It highlights some successful recent projects, like distributing 10,000 reading diaries and decorating book benches across the city. Going forward, the initiative will focus more on early years and young people while continuing to grow partners and promote the #ReadMCR brand.

1. Read Manchester
#ReadMCR readmanchester.org.uk

2. Read Manchester – what is it?
• A campaign / initiative / programme / a movement!
• National Literacy Trust
• From 0-99
• Focuses on reading for pleasure
• Not re-inventing the wheel – there’s a lot going on already
• An umbrella for existing reading activity
• A brand – enabling partners to badge their activity
• Not a competitor, but an enabler

3. Why now?
The time is right:
Our Manchester – a 10 year strategy for the city
- a thriving, sustainable city
- a highly skilled city
a place where residents from all backgrounds feel safe, can aspire, succeed and live well
Schools – the need to drive improvement
Recognition that the city council can’t do it all – ownership to
embed a culture change
1 in 6 adults struggle to read (15% adults in NW don’t have the literacy skills expected of an
11-year old)

4. National Literacy Trust survey July 2016

5. What makes a difference?
Raising literacy standards needs more than excellent literacy
teaching in schools
It also requires:
•positive home learning environments
•a focus on reading for pleasure
•a locally-focused approach – one size doesn’t fit all
•partnerships from across all sectors (schools, libraries, businesses,
3rd
sector etc.)

6. Why is reading for pleasure
important?
Research shows that when people read for pleasure:
•they have greater opportunities in everyday life, education and
employment
•Studies (Mindlab International 2104) show that reading for just 6 mins is the
best way to relax:
• Better than listening to music or going for a walk
• Heart rate slows and muscles unwind
• Stress levels can fall by almost 70%
•Positive impact on a range of outcomes…

7. The Reading Agency et al (2016) Reading Outcomes
Framework toolkit, London: The Reading Agency

8. Public libraries are not all closing…
•250 million visits were made last year (more than cinema & theatre & visits to the
top 10 tourist attractions & visits to live gigs COMBINED)
•51% of us have a current public library card (47% have used a public library in the
last 12 months)
•15-25 year olds are more likely to use public libraries than over 55’s
But public libraries can’t go it alone…
Whose responsibility is reading
anyway?

9. • The National Literacy Trust – research, sector expertise and
contacts
• Businesses – employees and local ownership
• Community partners – e.g. Wythenshawe Community Housing
Group
• Established brands – Manchester Literature Festival, Manchester
Children’s Book Festival
• Transport for Greater Manchester
• Schools, colleges, universities
Partnerships are key

10. • Building a campaign around World Book
Day (an established national brand)
• Appealing to a large organisation for
reach and coverage
• 6,000 books gifted on trams
• 1,173 tweets & nearly 8 million
impressions
• High profile
World Book Day – quick reads on the
tram

11. • Author and poet visits to targeted
schools
• Peer school to school support
• Stay, Play and Learn sessions
• Promoting existing programmes e.g.
Summer Reading Challenge
Targeted work in schools & Children’s
Centres

12. • 58 BookBenches decorated by schools and community groups
• Exhibited at key venues in a city-wide trail
• Visual impact - people starting to take notice
Book Bench city-wide trail

13. • Pick 6 reads and read, record and rate
them in a diary
• Opportunity to promote a range of
reading materials – anything goes!
• Quick Reads (shorter and easier to
tackle for adults who are less confident
readers)
• Tangible offer for partners
• 10,000 diaries distributed
Reading Ahead challenge – going BIG
in Manchester

14. Drop Everything and Read – a ‘10
minute’ narrative for the city

16. • Funding secured, but with a more targeted focus on early
years and young people
• Develop a reading narrative for the city – Just 10 minutes
• Grow partners and brand
• #ReadMCR
Cheryl Pridgeon
c.pridgeon@manchester.gov.uk
@manclibraries
Where do we go from here?