Suffolk Libraries welcomes new Youth Literacy Ambassador
Suffolk Libraries, the charity that runs libraries across Suffolk, is delighted to be working with a new Youth Literacy Ambassador who will champion the importance of reading to other young people.
Sophia Downey is a Year 8 student at Finborough School. Earlier in the year Sophia wrote to our CEO Bruce Leeke expressing her passion for children’s literacy and her support for the work of Suffolk Libraries. She also made it clear she’d be interested in getting behind any future plans to improve literacy levels in Suffolk.
As a result, Bruce Leeke and other colleagues from Suffolk Libraries agreed to meet Sophia at her school and have since invited her to become a voluntary Youth Literacy Ambassador.
Sophia said:
"I am eager to get involved and support Suffolk Libraries’ ongoing initiatives because I firmly believe that literacy and reading at a young age are the foundation for the future of education, industry, and work.
“I am really looking forward to working with Bruce and his team so that I can share my passion for reading with children and young people across Suffolk. I can’t wait to start developing this new role and bringing some of my ideas to life that will help other people find the stories and books they love."
Bruce Leeke, Chief Executive of Suffolk Libraries, added:
“We were all hugely impressed with Sophia’s letter and obvious passion for literacy. Sophia is keen to play a big role in helping us to support young people across the county and as a result we felt she would make a wonderful ambassador.
"The summer reading challenge is about to launch in all our libraries and is the biggest literacy campaign run across the UK. It’s clear taking part in the summer reading challenge over several years made a difference to Sophia and her own reading journey. I know that her enthusiasm and love of reading will help to inspire other young people and create a legacy for future years.”
Sophia’s role will include helping Suffolk Libraries to encourage children and young people to read and to get them to engage with books and libraries.
Her first assignment as Youth Literacy Ambassador has been taking part in the judging panel for the My Suffolk Story children’s writing competition which has been running as part of the Festival of Suffolk.
There have been over 500 entries and Suffolk Libraries is hoping to announce the winners later this week. Sophia is also going to be volunteering to support the Summer Reading Challenge in the library over the summer.