Civic creates site for SPL and Government reading campaign
The Scottish Premier League Reading Stars website, has launched as part of a national campaign to tackle literacy in Scotland.
The microsite, created by Civic, contains details of players’ book preferences, for both children and adults, and allows users to download pictures and PDF’s of the players and their club crests. The campaign will also mean that the libraries adopted by each of the 12 clubs in the league will receive free copies of the player’s book choices and host visits from the footballers involved.
The SPL Reading Stars site has been developed through a partnership between the Scottish Government, the Scottish Premier League, the National Literacy Trust and Learning Connections. The impetus for the new site comes from The Big Plus, a major, national initiative that encourages adults to improve their reading, writing and numbers skills by taking part in the wide range of free help which is available throughout the country.
The 12 footballers include are Gary Caldwell, Steven Naismith, Jamie Smith and Michael Stewart from Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts respectively have selected children's books ranging from Harry Potter through to Roald Dahl classics. A diverse range of adult books have been chosen, including 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and the graphic novel 'Maus: My father bleeds history'.
The campaign will also look to work with 250 children and 250 adults who will receive free books, as well as reading incentives such as tickets for football games and club merchandise.
Greig Tosh, MD, CIVIC, commented: "The involvement of professional footballers from the SPL as reading champions should provide inspiration to many to read and develop their skills. With one in five Scots having difficulty reading, writing or using numbers, SPL Reading Stars is a great way of championing literacy skills and encouraging people to pick up books. This important campaign also seeks to reduce the stigma associated with the subject matter amongst the general public.”