03 Dec Why I Volunteer
There was a point in my life when I needed some help. I had left education and didn’t know what came next for me - become a teacher? Study a PhD? Travel? I thought about what I wanted to do and who I wanted to...
#readinggroups Tag
28 Sep What to Read Now
Running on Empty by S.E. Durrant (suggested for 9+) Grandad was the key to keeping AJ’s family together but his loss leaves AJ vulnerable and needing to draw on his inner strength and drive. A glimpse into the life of a young carer and his perseverance and...
10 Aug What to Read Now
The long lazy days of summer are perfect for getting caught up on your reading bucket list. Here's what to read this month. Ghost by Jason Reynolds (suggested for 9+) Meet Castle Cranshaw (aka Ghost) who discovered his talent for running one night when he and his mother...
09 Jun Read for Empathy – guest blog by author S.E. Durrant
Empathy Day was established with the intention of using stories to encourage empathy among children. To me, this makes perfect sense. At a time when social media allows us to live in bubbles that reinforce our own certainties, the ability to empathise with experiences that...
20 May What To Read Now
J.K. Rowling hit the nail on the head when she said: ‘If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book’. If a child is reluctant to read, all that they really need is a helping hand when it comes to selecting a...
06 May On Character – guest blog by Gennifer Choldenko
I had lunch with a writing friend a few weeks ago. She said I had once told her: “I don’t have writer’s block, I have life block.” I’ve had people misquote me before - sometimes horrifyingly so. But as it happens, my friend was spot on. I...
22 Apr Be the Change – guest blog by author Georgina Stevens
It's time to be honest with children Three years ago my world was turned upside down by the arrival of our little boy, Rafael. I was propelled headlong into the world of parenting, with all of its joys and challenges. And I re-entered the world of...