Summer Reading Challenge 2024

We are delighted to announce that over 1,700 school children registered for this years Summer Reading Challenge- which is an increase from last year!

1 in 4 children cannot read well by the age of 11, hugely limiting their life choices and skills. But Carmarthenshire County Council is on a mission to change this. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready to kick start their new school year in the autumn. Children set their own reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy for FREE.

In partnership with Create, a leading arts charity, this years challenge was called Marvellous Makers and was centred around creativity. Ranging from dance to drawing, junk modelling to music- there was something for everyone! There was an excellent uptake of readers for the main challenge aged between 4 – 11 years old, as well as a Mini Challenge for the Pre-schoolers. 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans visited Carmarthen Library to present the Summer Reading Challenge shield for the Carmarthen region, to Richmond Park school.

Cllr Evans had this to say about the event:

It was great to be in attendance at Carmarthen Library today to celebrate the impressive achievement by these young people. This challenge is a great way to boost children’s confidence when it comes to reading and supporting their move to a new school group or key stage in the autumn. Having a good level of reading is vital in increasing a child’s self- esteem and life skills. It’s a great project to promote reading and literacy skills throughout the summer holiday offering incentives, certificates and medals for reading a minimum of 6 books. Congratulations to Richmond Park School.

Prizes included family tickets for Theatrau Sir Gâr, Pendine Museum of Speed, the Leisure Centre and Pembrey Country Park.

Congratulations to Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman for winning the Ammanford regional shield, and Old Road school for winning the Llanelli regional shield.

It is hoped that more children will participate in the Summer Reading Challenge next year and enjoy reading for pleasure and enjoyment.