Eight brand new Quick Reads launched Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 16:24

To celebrate the launch of the eight new Quick Reads titles on Wednesday 1 February 2011, NIACE is encouraging organisations across the country to hold events to inspire new and reluctant readers to develop a love of reading. Reading Breaks and Family Reading Breaks, are accompanied by free downloadable resources to help make them a success. Reading Break activity kick-starts on Tuesday 7 February, and NIACE is encouraging organisations to hold activities through to World Book Day on Thursday 1 March 2012 and beyond.

Sue Southwood, Quick Reads Project Manager at NIACE, said:

"Reading helps children to learn about the world around them. It promotes communication skills, enriches imagination and helps them do well in school. But roughly 1 in 6 adults in the UK struggle with reading and it's vital that we find ways to encourage them to improve their skills and give them the ability to read to their children. For adults, stronger literacy skills can also lead to a better quality of life in terms of improved self-confidence, involvement in the community and could even lead to a new or better job."

"Businesses too have identified that literacy initiatives in the workplace improve productivity, attendance and morale, and help workers feel more confident in their jobs and more positive about their future careers. Quick Reads are a great resource to support adults develop confidence in their reading and are widely used in adult literacy classes, but we still need to reach adults who are struggling alone."

Since the introduction of Quick Reads in 2006, these short, accessible books have had a real impact on the reading experiences of thousands of adults across the country. The books have also become a key resource for literacy-learning and are used as part of workplace learning programmes.

Quick Reads ambassador Peter Andre, who recently visited the NIACE-supported Southwark Take Time To...Reading Group, said:

"It's amazing to see the impact that improving your reading and writing skills can have on your earning potential not to mention your overall personal confidence and morale. Quick Reads are a great way to get yourself back into the habit of reading and to build up your confidence. Great stories, brilliantly written and easy-to-read, they've helped me fall in love with reading again after years of putting off picking up a book because of lack of time and feeling intimidated by large books."

Sandra Tomlinson, organiser of the Southwark Take Time To...Reading Group, said:

"They really like the Quick Reads titles as they are short and quick to read. The group...has helped people from the community meet others who are like-minded. Some are attending courses and others are friends or family members. One member has brought her grown-up daughter along to encourage her to read, another...reads regularly, but enjoys ‘the chance to talk about a book, not just read it on my own'. One member commented, ‘I joined because I wanted a challenge and it has made me want to read more.'"

Comprehensive packs for schools and workplaces, complete with discounted copies of the new titles (and a display stand for workplaces only), can be ordered online. The packs for schools also include a selection of children's books.