We are delighted to extend the Behind the Cover audiobook club to provide additional support during the holidays for young women through our Words for Work: Women in Leadership programme, developed in partnership with Lancôme.
Thanks to the generous support from Lancôme, we’re delighted that the winter edition of the free audiobook club features Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Behind the Cover was created during the first lockdown in response to secondary school and college closures. It aims to inspire and motivate young women by providing access to books digitally that promote critical thinking and also provides a platform to discuss key themes in the book. Behind the Cover has created a sense of community for young women while they are away from their peers, supporting their wellbeing.
In addition to the audiobook club, in August this year, Lancôme worked with 10 young women on a two-week virtual Words for Work Internship.
The participants received 1:1 mentoring from the National Literacy Trust, attended employability and literacy masterclasses, gained insight into what it is like to work at a global beauty brand by attending curated Lancôme masterclasses, and completed and showcased a creative project.
Words for Work: Women in Leadership which has directly improved the literacy skills, confidence and leadership abilities of nearly 1,000 young women aged 16-18 across the UK, through teacher-led workshops, panel events with inspiring women in leadership positions, business immersion days and now the virtual internship.
Together Lancôme and the National Literacy Trust will expand the Words for Work: Women in Leadership programme to empower 5,000 young women to get the job they want.
Our research shows that audiobooks can benefit young people’s reading skills and mental wellbeing, which is needed now more than ever. The books we work with explore a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences and celebrate women authors. Together with Lancôme, this year, we have responded to the needs of young women across the country with our virtual internship programme and audio book club, ensuring that literacy is not a barrier for young women achieving their dreams.
Billie Dunne, Senior Programme Manager for Words for Work at the National Literacy Trust
Words for Work: Women in Leadership forms part of Lancôme’s global campaign: Write Her Future, developed in association with the NGO Care to help improve literacy rates for women all around the world.
For further information about Write Her Future and Words for Work: Women in Leadership visit: lancome.co.uk/discover-lancome/words-for-work/
To join Behind the Cover, visit literacytrust.org.uk/behind-the-cover
Join the conversation by using the hashtag #BehindTheCoverClub