Shrewsbury Bookfest’s flagship project ‘Book Award‘ for Shropshire Primary Schools has just won substantial funding from the Shropshire-based charitable trust, the Wynn Foundation which gives Shrewsbury Bookfest the green light to prepare to launch Book Award 2020.  The cheque for £5,000 was presented to Shrewsbury Bookfest at the University Centre Shrewsbury this week.

Since 2010, Shrewsbury Bookfest has run this exciting Book Award scheme every two years, reaching almost 2,000 primary school children each time across Shropshire and it has become the charity’s flagship project winning plaudits from schools, teachers, children’s authors and the Education Centre at The Guardian newspaper.

Claire Rogers, Trustee of the Wynn Foundation says…..

“We are thrilled to be able to support such a fantastic project.  It’s very clear that Book Award has a huge impact on so many children, inspiring a love of books and reading.  We wish Book Award 2020 every success.”

Shrewsbury Bookfest’s Book Award project demonstrates that the initiative is very successful in achieving its key objective of encouraging a love of reading. Over 95% of those surveyed (Book Award 2018) stated that not only did the project encourage pupils to read more than usual but it also created a positive impact on reading generally.

The project will take place for the 6th time between July 2019 and July 2020. Through a series of book-related activities designed to capture pupils’ imaginations, build their confidence and skills in reading and critical analysis, Shrewsbury Bookfest has devised this child-led reading development initiative with a proven track record of success.  The University Centre Shrewsbury is also providing valuable support and advice to the Book Award project and will host the one-day conference for teachers to launch the project to participating schools.  This conference in November 2019 will give teachers from all participating schools the opportunity to hear and meet leading figures and authors from the world of children’s literature and education in order to gain inspiration and share ideas on how to help children develop a life-long love of reading.

Jackie Hampson, Head Teacher of Castlefields Primary School in Bridgnorth says:

“The (Book Award) project encourages children to read novels they would not normally venture into. It stretches the most able readers and the discussions that follow support those children who find reading more of a challenge….. If anyone wants to bring reading to life in their school then SIGN UP TO BOOKFEST now!”

Piers Torday, award-winning children’s author and patron of Shrewsbury Bookfest has commented on Book Award:

“this is led by the children, for the children….they have a voice and a role to play (in the project)”

Work is underway NOW to launch the Book Award project for 2020.  If your school would like to find out more about how to get involved, please get in touch with the Bookfest team here

Take a look at this short film that was made during Book Award 2018…