DAVID BECKHAM CONGRATULATES READING CHAMPIONS 2003

10 Dec 2003 04:00 AM

Reading Champions honoured during an award ceremony at London's Science Museum today received an extra surprise when England Football Captain David Beckham sent his congratulations speaking via a film especially recorded for the occasion. David Beckham congratulated all of the new Reading Champions and wished them luck in their quest to get more boys to read.

Reading Champions are men and boys who have been nominated for their commitment to promoting reading to others. For the fourth year running the National Reading Campaign has encouraged nominations for men and boys such as dads, teenagers, adult learners, teachers and volunteers who are inspiring or helping other men and boys to enjoy reading.

The scheme aims to promote positive role models to show that reading can be fun and relevant, whoever you are and whatever your interests.

Twenty five of this year's Champions - ranging from teenagers who read with younger pupils, to a Headteacher who has encouraged a whole school reading community at his primary school - are guests of honour at today's ceremony. Each Champion will be welcomed by BBC newsreader and Reading Champion Huw Edwards who will give out prizes including copies of David Beckham's autobiography My Side, book vouchers generously donated by Blackwell's and The Big Read Book of Books provided by Dorling Kindersley.

Secretary of State for Education and Skills Charles Clarke said;

"We have some of the highest standards of reading anywhere in the world, thanks particularly to the transformation in the teaching in our schools over recent years. But we also know that fewer children are reading for fun. I am determined that we do all we can to help all children to experience the joy of reading. Excellent standards and enjoyment go hand in hand.

"That's why the work of Reading Champions is so important. I hope Reading Champions inspire many more young people to see that reading is not just a learning tool - it can also transform their lives."

Notes for editors
1. The National Reading Campaign is delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. The Reading Champions scheme was created in response to concern about standards of literacy amongst boys and young men in particular. The Reading Champions scheme ran for the first time in 2000. Champions are featured on the National Reading Campaign's website at www.readon.org.uk with details of their activities and tips about encouraging reluctant readers.

2. The National Literacy Trust (NLT) is an independent charity dedicated to building a nation in which everyone enjoys the skills, self-esteem and pleasures that literacy can bring. It is the only organisation concerned with raising literacy standards for all age groups throughout the UK. The importance of literacy has long been recognised: it underpins all educational achievement and is central to economic advance; it helps develop human potential and raises self-esteem. The National Literacy Trust is Blackwell's charity of the year.

3. A full list of this year's Reading Champions who will be attending the event is attached.

4. David Beckham is keen to support Reading Champions, and hopes that his autobiography might inspire reluctant readers to pick up a book.

5. A poster and leaflet are available to promote Reading Champions Tel. 0845 60 222 60 or email dfes@prolog.uk.com quoting reference NRC RCP for posters and NRC RCL for the leaflets.

Reading Champions Attending Award Ceremony

- Adrian Bower from Tamarside Community College in Plymouth, who has run the Readathon scheme in his school for seven years.

- Allan Young, from the National Library for the Blind, who has helped to enable hundreds of people to re- discover reading after losing their sight, and who is dedicated to passing on his Braille skills to other visually impaired people.

- Year 11 pupils Andrew Turnbull, Neil Hunton and Wayne Jackson from Stainburn School in Cumbria, who act as role models by being pupil teachers in a twice-weekly paired reading scheme between year 11 pupils and year 7 pupils who have literacy difficulties.

- Adult learner Bill Freel, who came back into learning through the basic skills adult literacy class at an adult community college and now acts as a huge encouragement to others to get back into reading and learning.

- Crewe Alexandra footballer Clayton Ince, who gives up his spare time after training to read with children at Leighton Primary School in Crewe.

- Daniel Williams from Lode Heath School in Solihull, who has been involved in promoting The BBC Big Read in his school.

- Cramlington High School students Daniel Rogers, David Gardner, Peter Gillon and Richard Coombs, who had the idea of trying to get the whole of year 9 reading by creating their very own bookweb and devising reading promotions. Also, Learning Support Assistant David McMaster, who was a reluctant reader and then went on to become a reading advocate for the school.

- Granddad David King from Southampton, a Volunteer Reading Help volunteer at Kanes Hill Primary School, who gives three reluctant readers 30 minutes of one-to-one help every week of the school year.

- Postman Derek Pratt, who has been a reading volunteer at St Swithin's RC Primary School in Southsea for five years.

- Eddie Burnett from Greenwich who, through his company Jubilee Books, organises events to excite and inspire young readers - especially boys.

- Dad John Scholes from Huddersfield, who enjoys reading with all of his four children and is inspiring them to achieve their best potential.

- John Boyle from the Learning for Homeless People Project in Southampton, who has enabled men who are living in a hostel for the homeless to have access to reading material they want to read.

- John Kirkland OBE, Chairman of construction company Bowmer & Kirkland and Chairman of Derbyshire's Learning and Skills Council, who is passionate about reading - especially about encouraging adults to read to their children.

- Children's librarian Mark Bedford, from New Addington Library in Croydon, who runs a storytelling club in the local secondary school, has set up a teenage reading group and runs a weekly rhymetime session for babies.

- Headteacher Peter Holgate, from Carlton near Goole in East Yorkshire, who encourages a whole school reading community within Carlton in Snaith Primary School.

- Terry Hicock, site manager of Dormers Wells High School in Southall, Middlesex, who is always reading a book or a newspaper in his spare time and who is a positive influence on the students.

- English teacher Tony Craig from Starhurst School in Surrey, who is passionate about reading and tries all means possible to draw boys into a love of reading.

- Corporate Champion, UPS, whose staff have consistently supported small groups of readers in Victoria Junior School in Feltham, Middlesex on a regular basis over the past few years.