Suffolk Libraries is looking for volunteers to help primary school children across the county to make the most of its summer reading programme.
Reading Quest launched in 2024 and will again run during the summer holidays, offering an exciting opportunity to get the whole family involved in a fun and engaging reading journey.
Reading Quest replaced the Summer Reading Challenge literacy campaign and last year over 6,200 children took part. The aim of Reading Quest is to inspire and encourage children to read for pleasure more regularly over the summer months, thereby maintaining and developing reading skills during the long break from school.
Reading Quest will run from 19 July to 31 August and Suffolk Libraries is looking to recruit volunteers now to help support children to take part in libraries during the summer.
Every week during the summer holidays, volunteers are needed to help library staff engage with children and talk to them about the activities they’ve completed and the books they’ve read.
Many volunteers come back year after year to support the summer reading programme in libraries. Anyone over 12 can volunteer and it’s a great way of helping the community, getting experience of working with children and meeting new people. Volunteers need to commit to spending 3-4 hours per week helping in the library for a minimum of six weeks over the summer holidays.
You can view the full volunteer profile and apply online. There is more information about Reading Quest at suffolklibraries.co.uk/reading-quest
The deadline for volunteer applications is 25 June to allow for the necessary applications to be checked and processed in time.
Erin Hamilton, Suffolk Libraries Children’s Librarian, said:
“We were delighted with the success of Reading Quest last year and have made changes to the programme based on feedback from volunteers and families to make it easier for everyone to engage this summer. Volunteers are a vital part of the programme as we need to speak to thousands of children across the county. It’s so rewarding to get involved with so we hope another army of volunteers will help us to deliver this programme which aims to improve literacy levels across the whole county!”
Reading Quest has been brough to life through illustrations by local Suffolk artist, Anna Lindsay, which highlight local myths and legends that Suffolk is widely known for.
Research has proven that a summer reading campaign can help children to maintain literacy levels during the long summer holiday so their reading skills don’t slip. It’s also a great way of getting them to discover their local library with many signing up for their first library card to take part.
Although the library service is transferring back to Suffolk County Council at the end of May, Suffolk Libraries is reassuring families that Reading Quest will still be running this summer as both organisations are committed to delivering what is a key literacy programme for Suffolk.
