Havant Rotary Reading Project
Reading is the gateway to learning for us all in a modern society. Schools are encountering an increasing number of children who begin their education with little language development, social skills below those expected for their age group and very little access to books.
Havant is an area that has a variety of needs. The Havant Rotary Club Reading Project began with two schools in 2021 and now has three participating in 2022.
The aim of the project is to provide reading books for 4-11 year olds that can be kept by pupils, borrowed, enjoyed and changed for another.
The Club went about collecting books from a variety of sources. One member approached their publisher Collins who provided books from their ‘Big Cat’ Series. We bought books from Usborne and were provided with more free ones as a result of our initial spend. Members collected and donated good quality books found in Charity shops, another member received books donated by a local scout group, a local Muslim group, authors who learnt about the project. We collated and listed the books in age groups and boxed them with our specially designed Rotary book marks and a leaflet explaining what we were doing. The book boxes were delivered mid-September and our project had begun.
Before Christmas 2021, the schools reported back how they felt the project had gone. The feedback reports were positive. Schools had selected their pupils who would most benefit from the extra access to books. In one school, they were given the freedom to choose their own books and to keep them for as long as they wished. The children were monitored by staff on how they used the facility and what they got out of it.
In our other school, 2 girls have formed their own little book club and are swapping books and sharing what they enjoy reading which is so nice. We have ensured that our disadvantaged children are chosen and they have been so good at borrowing the books and coming back to tell me what they have enjoyed.
The responses seemed to be positive from both schools. Some children took their books home while others preferred to keep them at school. They were returned in the same good condition as when they were lent. The older children seemed to keep a book for much longer than the younger children who got through up to six books during the course of the term.
There seemed to be little difference in preference for fictional or non-fictional books. However, recently published books were much more popular than older ones, not because the latter were tatty but because some were thought to be old fashioned in content. While it is too soon to assess the impact of the project on the children’s interest in reading, the early signs are promising. The children say that they love coming to choose a book and love the selection on offer.
Any club/school who would like to learn more about the project please contact shelagh@trymoore.co.uk
Some of our current projects
Young Chef
Budding chefs as young as thirteen displayed their talents to an impressed [audience and judging panel] in the first round of the Rotary Young Chef Competition
Youth Speaks
Youth Speaks challenge young people’s public speaking abilities. In teams of three, participants present arguments and points of discussion, before taking questions from the judging panel.
ShelterBox
This year we have purchased four Shelterboxes. They provide shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes and after disaster anywhere in the world.
Global Sight Solutions
Global Sight Solutions originally established by a Rotary Club based in Guildford has received our support. It’s aim is simple: It strives to make blindness history. Its main focus is the setting up of Specialist Eye Hospitals in areas of need.