Read your way through Lancashire this summer with the SCART Club
Written by John Williamson on 07/06/2018
Lancashire children are being challenged to keep reading and take on a number of fun tasks over the summer.
The Lancashire Reading Journey, known as the SCART Club this year, is available for children aged five to 12.
The SCART Club will launch on Saturday 30 June and will run until Monday 10 September.
SCART Club stands for Science, Culture, Active, Reading and Technology and is organised by Lancashire County Council. It is free to take part in and aims to keep children reading throughout the summer holidays.
Children just need to visit a library to join in and complete two tasks from each of the five SCART themes. One task for every theme must be linked to reading.
On joining the SCART Club children will receive a task book, and will need to complete all five tasks to receive their rewards of stickers and prizes.
County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “This is a great way to encourage children to keep reading and learning throughout their summer holidays.
“The tasks are varied, but do encourage reading as it is so important.
“We launched the initial Reading Journey a few years ago and each year over 7,000 children have taken part in it.
“As well as being fun, it is also a good way to boost children’s literacy, which not only helps with their education but also improves their life chances in the future.”
The artwork for the SCART Club has been designed by Heather Holden, a second year Video Game Design student at UCLan. Art students at the university were invited to produce the designs for this initiative, with Heather’s being selected. A regular visitor to Longridge Library, Heather was inspired to enter the competition as she often entered the Reading Journey as a child.
Those taking part in the SCART Club will receive one free family pass to a Lancashire museum.
It’s free to join the library and under-16s can join by themselves.
The scheme will be promoted in Lancashire primary schools and supports the We are Reading initiative that was launched in March.
Young people aged 12 to 24 also have the opportunity to volunteer as a ‘Reading Hack’ at their local library, as part of the Reading Journey. This role is to support children on the Reading Journey, and help with organising and running events. To volunteer, please visit http://bit.ly/readhack.
Libraries around the county will be hosting different events to promote the SCART Club. More information about these is available at www.lancashire.gov.uk/events.aspx.
For more information about the SCART Club, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/libraries/reading-journey.aspx, visit your local library or telephone 0300 123 6703.
To find out more about Lancashire County Council libraries visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries
