New Six Book 2012 Challenge Materials

The Reading Agency is delighted to announce that print materials for the Six Book Challenge 2012 are now available.  Order now through the Shop and take advantage of the Early Bird offer!  Please pass this message on to all colleagues who might be interested in participating in the Six Book Challenge 2012 – our fifth year!

If you do not have log-in details for the Shop please register and they will be provided within 24 hours. 

The Reading Agency’s Six Book Challenge invites adult literacy learners to read six books such as the Quick Reads and to record their reading in a diary in order to receive incentives, a certificate and the chance to enter a national prize draw for Challenge completers. 18,000 people registered for the Six Book Challenge this year, among them around 2500 students from nearly 40 colleges supported by their own learning resource centres and many more in other learning provision supported by public libraries. Our aim is extend the Six Book Challenge to at least 100 colleges for 2012 so that more learners can benefit from the scheme.  

The majority of learners who take part in the Six Book Challenge are ‘emergent readers’, ie Entry Level 3/Level 1.  However we know that the scheme is increasingly being used with Entry Level and ESOL learners – more than 40 nationalities were represented this year.  Most participants read books to take part but the Challenge can be used to introduce people to text in lots of different formats such as magazines, newspapers, websites and even digital games. There are over 900 reading recommendations on our Find a Read database to help your selection and we will be adding more texts at Entry Level over the autumn. We also welcome suggestions from practitioners so please feel free to submit these to the database.

Products for 2012

• A striking new design and a new participant leaflet incorporating book recommendations and a Challenge completer’s story.
• Prices held for a third year running with discounts available for multiple orders.
  Orders made by 12 October will also benefit from an Early Bird discount.
• Special offer – free pack of 125 branded coasters with each three packs purchased!
• Top-up packs of reading diaries available to increase flexibility for purchasers.
• Packs include reading diaries, certificates, posters, information fliers, bookmarks and participant leaflets.
  Incentives include new cotton bags in addition to pens, key rings, mugs and notepads all branded with the Six Book Challenge logo (no date). 
• All purchases will be fully supported by templates and guidance from the Six Book Challenge website, book recommendations from the NEW Find a Read database and regular email updates throughout the Challenge.
• Orders placed by 12 October will be fulfilled by early November; later orders will normally be delivered in ten working days.

Please log into the Reading Agency Shop for full details. If you do not have log in details please register and we will supply them as quickly as possible (normally within 24hrs)

The main activity for the Six Book Challenge 2012 will run from January to June but learning providers are welcome to use the scheme at any time in 2012.  A prize draw of a top author visit is on offer for colleges involving a minimum of 20 students in the Six Book Challenge and we will shortly be announcing MAJOR NEW PRIZES FOR COMPLETERS! We are also developing a gold/silver/bronze award scheme for participating organisations.  

The Reading Agency is running training on Friday 14 October in London for staff from colleges and other organisations wanting to run the Six Book Challenge in 2012, drawing on an ever-growing range of transferable models from across the UK.

Key benefits of running the Six Book Challenge

• Engages people in an enjoyment of reading – often for the first time
• Supports skills development and progression to further learning and employability
• Offers an ideal way to use the Quick Reads and other titles specially written or selected for less confident readers
• Meets local priorities for educational attainment, quality of life and civic participation
• Provides a catalyst for reading group and other creative reading activity
• Encourages use of college and public libraries by young people and adults who might never otherwise venture into them
• Provides a simple but powerful tool for partnership working within a college or other adult education environment

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