Read On Nottingham and Penguin Random House have teamed up with Notts County Football Club to launch a brand-new book swap, taking place in the Family Stand at every home game.
The initiative kicked off at the match against Cheltenham Town on 17 November, where despite the Magpies conceding three goals, lucky young football fans were able to borrow one of 400 newly-published booked, courtesy of Penguin Random House and distributed by Literacy Volunteers. Children are encouraged to return their chosen stories at the following home game, in exchange for another new title, to inspire them to continue reading for enjoyment.
Manager of the National Literacy Trust Hub in Nottingham, Emily Landsborough, said:
"We're delighted to team up with Notts County and Penguin Random House to bring young football fans this brilliant book swap. We know sport can be a powerful hook to engage children in reading for enjoyment and hope this initiative will inspire more families to share stories and visit their local library together."
Siena Parker, Head of Creative Responsibility at Penguin Random House, said:
"Books and reading are fundamental to what we do and we are excited to share this passion with families across Nottingham."
Read On Nottingham, which launched in April 2018, is led by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Small Steps Big Changes. It encompasses a range of projects and initiatives to give young people the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.
For more information on the book swap, please contact Alice Kelk.