Last weekend Jeff visited Didsbury Library as part of the Summer Reading Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest annual reading promotion for children aged 4-11.  The Challenge combines free access to books with fun, creative activities in libraries during the summer holidays.

Throughout the Challenge, library staff and young volunteers support the children, helping them to discover new authors and illustrators and to explore a wide range of different types of books and ways of reading.  The Challenge is a key element of the Read Manchester programme which aims to boost literacy across the city and encourage reading for pleasure.

To support the Challenge, there are over 200 free activities on offer in 22 libraries.  All of these activities are designed to attract children and families into Library venues, and by joining the Challenge, create life-long library users.

Jeff said: “It was great to meet Zara and the other volunteers that are making the Summer Reading Challenge happen.

From scrapbooking to handling live animals with rangers from Zoolab, there’s so much to do across the city so I’m encouraging as many young people to get involved with the Read Manchester programme.”

To find out more about the Read Manchester program, you can visit their website here.