Opportunity: The Reading Agency is looking for a research partner

The Reading Agency is on the lookout for an expert research team to help them conduct a large-scale independent study into their Summer Reading Challenge – an annual challenge for 4 to 11 year-olds to read six books at their local library over their summer holidays.

 

The Summer Reading Challenge is one of the biggest reading-for-pleasure programmes, reaching children aged 4-11 across the socio-economic spectrum on an annual basis and enabling them to maintain or improve their reading levels during the summer holidays.

While the successes of the programme are numerous (just take this Shropshire lad, for an example!), and the Reading Agency may be justifiably proud of their achievements, feedback and evaluation is still vital to maintaining and growing the programme in the coming years.

In partnership with the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) and Libraries Connected, Arts Council England have awarded The Reading Agency with a grant to evaluate the Challenge, both in terms of reading skills and reading enjoyment alongside the secondary aim exploring the impact public library-based reading activity can have on building wider school and family engagement with reading.

The Reading Agency is therefore seeking an expert research partner, with experience in mixed-methods research, to design and deliver an evaluation of the 2019 Challenge and help provide a robust evidence base for funding.

The grant to lead the research for this project is worth £65,000. Researchers interested in bidding for this can find out more, and download the tender here. More information regarding the job description can be found here.

 

The deadline for proposals is the 21 January 2019 at 5 pm. 

 

 

Job Opportunity: Senior Communications Officer at Guild HE

GuildHE are seeking a full-time Senior Communications Officer to support communications and public relations activities, helping to amplify key messages to enhance the delivery of GuildHE’s core mission and to deliver better value for members.