Welsh reading project ‘improving social and economic wellbeing’
A reading project targeting communities in Wales has helped to improve the socio-economic conditions of people who have taken part, experts claim.
Louise Powell, a co-ordinator for the Reading Communities project on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil, claimed that the scheme impacted on more than just people's reading levels, reports the Western Mail.
The programme is also running in local schools. Paul Doyle, co-ordinator of the Pontardawe reading community, said: "Projects at schools have created a more vibrant and enthusiastic approach to books and reading."
Education minister for the Welsh Assembly Leighton Andrews added that reading for a child for ten minutes a day "can make a huge difference to their overall ability and confidence".
The community-oriented scheme builds upon the Welsh government's pre-existing literacy campaign Take Five, Read for Ten. A leaflet has been made available throughout the country which offers tips for improving a child's ability, including reading with children every night and following words with a finger, occasionally missing out words to check they are understanding the passage.
