On 28
September, children and adults across Manchester stopped what they were doing
to pick up a book in celebration of National Poetry Day.
The Drop
Everything and Read initiative came as part of our Read Manchester campaign in
partnership with Manchester City Council. We asked Mancunians to choose magazines,
newspapers, novels and more and read them for just 10 minutes, which research
shows is all it takes to make a significant difference to a child’s literacy.
Children,
teachers and employees from local businesses met in the city’s St Peter’s
Square to read together, receive free books, enjoy brilliant performance poetry
from Dom Berry and marvel at the six BookBenches on display in the square, which were
decorated by Manchester school children and community groups.
The group was made up of 90 children from local primary schools - Abbott 
Community
Primary school, Cheetwood Primary and St Wilfrid's R.C Primary school. They
were joined by members of Manchester City Council including Executive Member
for Schools, Culture and Leisure Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Chief
Executive Sara Todd, Interim Director of Education Amanda Corcoran, and the
Lord Mayor of Manchester Eddy
Newman.
There were
also groups from the Manchester Metropolitan University and English as a second
language learners from Manchester Adult Education Service, as well as workers
from nearby offices.
Those who couldn’t
make it to St Peter’s Square shared their reading selfies using #ReadMCR on
social media. From sports teams including Sale Sharks Rugby Club and
Manchester Giants Basketball team, to museum and gallery staff at Heaton Park
and Manchester Art Gallery and even Balfour Beatty construction firm, many
people were keen to help promote reading for enjoyment in the city.
