8th September 2015

The European Literacy Policy Network (ELINET) (of which Beanstalk is a member) is supporting Literacy Week 2015, which aims to raise awareness about low literacy throughout Europe. Literacy Week starts on 8th September 2015, UNESCO’s International Literacy Day, and runs until 17th September 2015. ELINET spiced up the campaign by organising a contest for the best literacy event in Europe, as well as an official closing event featuring high-level speakers in Brussels on 17th September.

The Literacy Week 2015 website (www.literacyweek.eu) already shows over 130 registered events! Those registered before 17th August 2015 automatically took part in the contest. A jury will assess the creativity, feasibility and resourcefulness of registered events and invite three nominees to the official closing ceremony in Brussels, where the winner will be presented with the Literacy Week Innovation Award.

Aside from the prize ceremony, this distinguished literacy event will also feature a story exhibition, panel discussions, a reception, and speeches by prominent speakers:

• Tibor Navracsics (European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport)
• Marianne Thyssen (European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility)
• H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development)
• Barbara Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch (Founder and Honorary President of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy)

as well as a Learner Ambassador and high-level panellists from different sectors.

About the European Literacy Policy Network (ELINET)

ELINET is a network of 78 literacy policy organisations from across Europe which was established in February 2014 and received a 3 million Euro grant from the European Commission to complete a two-year work programme. 

The consortium includes:  literacy networks, education ministries, national agencies, international organisations (like UNESCO), foundations, NGOs, universities, research centres, teacher training institutions, volunteer organisations and other stakeholder groups working in the field of literacy.

The ELINET project brings together organisations from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom. 

UK members of the network include Beanstalk, BookTrust and EU Reads, Education Scotland, the Institute of Education, The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), the United Kingdom Literacy Association and the University of York.

For further information visit www.eli-net.eu 

Notes to editors

1. Beanstalk is a national literacy charity that recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work in primary schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading.

2. Each Beanstalk reading helper works with three children and sees each child for two 30 minute sessions a week, during term-time, for a whole year. Together, they read, play and talk. With Beanstalk's support the child's approach to learning and enjoying reading is often transformed.

3. Beanstalk works in areas of deprivation across England through 17 Area Offices in the North, Midlands, Greater London and Kent.

4. Beanstalk was founded in 1973 as Volunteer Reading Help by Susan Belgrave MBE, Beanstalk’s President.

5. To find out how to become a Beanstalk reading helper, visit www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call 020 7729 4087.

6. For further information, please contact Steve Hawe at [email protected] or 07837 701520