Literacy Trust will be for benefit of all in Isle

The Trust will build on the work of the hugely successful Imagination Library that began in the Isle of Axholme, where 907 youngsters are registered within the scheme. It will be dedicated to further improving the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in communities.

North Lincolnshire Council will work alongside local businesses and community groups to establish the Literacy Trust with plans to launch it officially in autumn this year.

Since the Imagination Library launched in 2013 events have taken place regularly in libraries and children’s centres to encourage children and families to build on their skills and improvements are marked, especially in children’s language and communication. Parents have shown great enthusiasm for the scheme and its effect on their children.

Research shows that one in six people in the UK still live with poor literacy.

Coun David Rose, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “The proposals for North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust will complement the Imagination Library and add to resources and activities already available. We have yet to confirm the plans but this is set to be an exciting initiative. Low literacy levels can hold people back in every stage of their life from not being able to succeed at school to possible being locked out of the job market. We want to ensure we do all we can to ensure every child has the same opportunities to succeed and inspire them to achieve to the best of their ability.

“All children and young people should be given the best start in life irrespective of where they come from and we hope the Trust will play a major part in this. We recognise there is a gap where people need further support, which is what we want the Children’s Literacy Trust to provide.”