Reading `picnics’ and campfire projects win library funding

As Book Week Scotland opens, it has been announced that 17 projects will benefit from the 2024-25 funding round through the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF). 

Among these, the S’More Reading For Mental Health initiative which operates at Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Mintlaw Academies in Aberdeenshire will benefit. It uses campfire-themed kits with tents, replica campfires, and nature toys to create a calming atmosphere for storytelling sessions and has been awarded £12,260.

The Craigie Book Blether at Edinburgh’s Craigentinny Primary gets £3,200 to help foster a reading community, engage parents, and raise attainment through "reading picnics" in the library.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“As Book Week Scotland gets underway, it’s an important time to reflect on the vital role school libraries play in supporting improved literacy and communications skills in our children. 

“I am very pleased to see a range of creative projects benefit from this funding, which will ultimately encourage more young people to read for enjoyment.”

Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), said:

“School libraries play such an important role in providing a safe space for young people to learn while also expanding their horizons through the world of reading.

“Programmes like SLIF allow school libraries across the breadth of the country to tailor their offering to the pupils who make use of the library on a daily basis, and it’s great to see so many deserving projects receive confirmation of their award to kick off Book Week Scotland.”

Background

The full list of projects to receive funding for 24-25 are:

Aberdeenshire

 Fraserburgh Academy, Inverurie Academy and Mintlaw Academy - S’More Reading For Mental Health - £12,260

Angus

Strathmartine and Tealing Primary Schools – Rural Schools Let’s Get Reading! - £2,500

Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries High School - Safe to Talk – A safe space to support mental wellbeing at Dumfries High School - £3,068

Dundee

 4 Secondary Schools TBC - Care to Share - £5,575

East Renfrewshire

St. Ninian’s High School, Ellon Academy, Banff Academy, Aboyne Academy, Armadale Academy, Forrester High School, James Young High School, Berwickshire High School, Stirling High School - Code Read – where books and bytes come together - £5,800

Edinburgh

Craigentinny Primary School - Craigie Book Blether - £3,200

 8 Secondary Schools - Back to (Information) Basics – An Information and Digital Literacy Skills Programme - £13,500

Falkirk

Braes High School, 6 Primary schools and EmpathyLab – Reading for Empathy - £20,065

Glasgow

4 Secondary Schools – Youth for Equity - £ 12,820

St Vincent’s Primary School - EAL Family Learning Campus Library - £16,040

North Ayrshire

Garnock Community Campus and Ardrossan Academy - Creative Classics - £5,105

Orkney

Stenness Primary School - Reading Together at Home - £600

Perth and Kinross

 Coupar Angus Primary School - Young Outdoor Librarians - £ 8,050

Renfrewshire

St Mary’s Primary School - A Library for all Languages - £2,454

Scottish Borders

Eyemouth High School  - EyeRead Sanctuary: Creating a Safe Space for Students - £8,108

South Ayrshire

 Carrick Academy, Prestwick Academy, EmpathyLab and The Scottish Book Trust  -  Empathy in Action: Building and developing empathy skills, information literacy, and reading engagement across our secondary schools to make a difference in our community - £ 15,500

Western Isles

 4 Primary schools and The Scottish Book Trust - Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar: Pròiseact Love to Leugh / Western Isles Libraries: Love to Read Project - £16,578