This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Home Reading grants available
26/01/2004
Schools and community groups
throughout Scotland were today urged to apply for a share
of £300,000 - earmarked to improve literacy by promoting
home reading.
The cash has been allocated as part of
the Executive's Home Reading Initiative, Read Together, to
provide start-up funding for local projects which support
children's reading.
Education Minister Peter Peacock
launched the second round of the small grants scheme by
visiting Letham Primary in Perth which benefited from last
year's grants.
He said:
"Every parent wants to give their
child the best possible start in life - and it needn't be
difficult. Just spending a few minutes every day reading
together can help children develop vital literacy skills
that they can use for the rest of their life.
"Last year around 450 schools,
nurseries and youth groups reaped the rewards of our small
grants scheme and I hope even more will apply this year.
The sustainable nature of the scheme means that all these
projects will help children to enjoy reading for many years
to come."
Morag Lennie, convener of Perth and
Kinross Council's lifelong learning committee,
said:
"I am pleased thatPerthand Kinross has been able to help promote the home
reading initiative. Encouraging young people to read in
their own time is an important and vital part of their
overall educational experience and we are very keen to work
with parents and carers to help get young people
reading.
"As well as introducing a whole range of new
challenges and experiences, reading helps to stimulate
young people's imaginations, strengthen their grasp of
language and literacy and increase their ability to
communicate effectively."
Reading Champion and author Linda
Strachan, who attended the launch and read from one of her
books, said:
"Books are a great means of escape that let you
move outside your own life and experience many
different things. They take you to another world and
let you fly off into the realms of fantasy.
"I've always loved books, and still remember my mother
reading to me when I was a child. As a writer, I'd love to
encourage all children to discover the delights of
disappearing into a good book."
The small grants scheme will provide
start-up costs for sustainable projects that encourage home
reading. Staff costs, travel and subsistence will not be
funded. Projects which received funding from the scheme
last year will not receive further funding and preference
will be given to organisations who have not received a
grant before.
Application forms are available from
the Scottish Executive Education Department, Branch 1, 2A,
Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ or by calling 0131 244
0080. The deadline for applications is March 31.