People in Liverpool are being encouraged to ‘Drop Everything and Read’ next week to raise money for schools

Can you spare ten minutes and just £1 next Thursday, 5 March, to raise funds to get kids reading in Liverpool?

Organised by national charity Read for Good and the Liverpool Learning Partnership, Drop Everything and Read Liverpool – #DEARLiverpool – is part of the two-week Liverpool schools Readathon, 2-13 March, but everyone can take part – including grown-ups!

At 10am (or any other time that suits on Thursday, which is also World Book Day) everyone is being asked to stop what they’re doing and read something – it doesn’t have to be a book – for just 10 minutes.

Everyone taking part is also asked to donate £1. Funds raised will support schools’ libraries, book boxes for Liverpool Learning Partnership’s transition Summer Schools project and Read for Good’s programme of taking books and storytellers into children’s hospitals including Alder Hey.

This year’s #DEARLiverpool and the Readathon are also part of Liverpool’s Year of Reading #LiverpoolReads initiative.

This is the third time that Liverpool has taken part in a Readathon with £33,000 being raised across 2017 and 2018. For 2020, 124 Liverpool schools have already signed up and 38,000 children are raring to go.

A survey by the National Literacy Trust in 2018 found that children who have taken part in a Readathon are likely to read more, read widely, and to use their school library.

You can follow what’s happening on Thursday and also share your own photos using #DEARLiverpool and #LiverpoolReads on social media.

Funds raised can be paid in online to Read for Good using Charity Checkout.

Jenny Holder, reading co-ordinator at Liverpool Learning Partnership, said: “Research has shown that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress by more than two thirds so we’re encouraging people across the city to take some time out to read on World Book Day.

“Taking part in #DEARLiverpool will help you to feel rested and more relaxed, as well as funding books and storyteller visits for children in hospital.”

Read for Good chief executive Justine Daniels said: “Learning to love to read as a child is one of the greatest things you can do for so many reasons: from academic attainment to emotional well-being. Studies have shown that reading can reduce stress in adults too and we’re delighted to hear of so many people joining the children across the city this World Book Day – from the ship’s company on board HMS Prince of Wales to Everton in the Community and Liverpool City Council.”

Cllr Barbara Murray, cabinet member for education, employment and skills and lead for Liverpool’s Year of Reading: “I’d encourage anyone to take part in #DEARLiverpool. It’s a great opportunity to take just ten minutes out, do something fun and to raise funds for incredible projects that support children to develop a love of reading.

“This year we want as many people as possible across the city to take part – why should the kids have all the fun!

“You don’t have to read a book. From comics to cookbooks, the sports pages to a blog post, they all count. And if you’re in a meeting, don’t let that stop you, we’re more than happy to see you reading the agenda and minutes!”

Find out more about Liverpool’s year of reading here.