© Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Barnsley Council launched a new pilot campaign and workshop last week, aimed at giving all children in Barnsley the opportunity to enjoy reading every day.

The ‘Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future’ campaign will be led nationally by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust.

Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “This partnership with BookTrust is about much more than a campaign, it’s about lasting change.

Reading opens doors to learning, wellbeing and aspiration. By making it a right for every child in Barnsley, we’re building a community where stories and opportunities go hand in hand.”

At the workshop launch, the atmosphere was one of ‘optimism and excitement’ after colleagues came together to collaborate on new ideas, expertise and next steps.

The council’s main focus was brainstorming ideas on how to equip families, communities and local professionals to provide families with high-quality books and resources for their children.

Will Carr, Senior Partnerships Manager for BookTrust North, said: “The workshop was a brilliant opportunity to pool the expertise of partners in The Dearne and to listen to their insights.

”There was real excitement in the room about what’s possible – and we’re now ready to take practical steps that will result in meaningful, co-designed reading support for families.”

BookTrust and Barnsley council have come together to build a taskforce of experts to create a model that works for local families, from health visitors, to midwifes and GP practices.

This campaign works directly alongside the council’s ‘Great Childhood Ambition’ scheme, ensuring that every child can ‘dream, grow, and belong through the joy of stories’.

Karen Rose, Head of Early Start, Prevention and Sufficiency for Barnsley Council’s Children’s Services, said:
“It was fantastic to see colleagues from across Family Hubs, Libraries, Public Health, and Area Council teams come together.

”With consistent messaging, quality books and resources, we can give families the tools to bond, play and learn together. This work is vital to our Great Childhoods Ambition.”

Barnsley Council are looking ahead to the future to help shape communities across England and develop a replicable model to transform a child’s future through reading.