Jump to: About | Benefits of registration | How to take part | Resources and inspiration | Funding | Community group Challenge | Technical support
We believe that reading has the power to change lives and that developing a love of reading in childhood can have a huge impact on educational attainment and future wellbeing.
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge aims to help children and young people between the ages of 5 and 18 develop a love of reading. We’re supporting schools, libraries and communities across Scotland to develop reading cultures and give every child in Scotland the opportunity to experience the benefits – and the fun – of reading for pleasure.
Who can take part
All community groups in Scotland can register to take part. The Reading Challenge is also open to primary schools, secondary schools and public libraries.
Benefits of registration
Registration for the First Minister’s Reading Challenge allows you to:
- Order reading passports for individual participants
- Access our huge range of downloadable resources and guides
- Apply for our Workshops Fund to work with an author, illustrator, storyteller or poet
- Submit your Reading Challenge stories to us for a chance to win awards and attend our Celebration event
How to take part
- Register your organisation
A key contact should register the organisation for the challenge, and order any passports. Registration is quick and easy. If you were signed up last year, your key contact just needs to log in and opt in to this year's challenge. They will then find the passport ordering page linked on their account page. If you didn't take part last year, you can still register and order passports. If you have any issues with registration, please contact us. - Get reading!
You can browse our resource library and our blog for ideas and inspiration. - Enter the Challenge
Share your reading journey to be in with a chance of winning a national award!
Resources and inspiration
In our resources section we have a variety of downloadable and adaptable resources available for groups. Resources can be filtered by age, type and theme, making it as easy as possible to find something that works for your groups.
Everyone who registers for the Challenge will also be sent regular email updates about taking part, full of support and ideas. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time without affecting your participation in the First Minister's Reading Challenge.
Funding
With our Workshops Fund, you could invite an author, illustrator, storyteller or poet to work with your group and buy books or other resources to make the most of the visit. All community groups taking part in the Reading Challenge can apply for this fund, and the deadline to apply is 17 November 2022.
Community Challenge
Community groups can enter the Community Reading Culture Challenge.
Challenge submissions will be open on the website in 2023, and you can enter any time before the deadline on Thursday 27 April 2023.
Community Reading Culture Challenge
We want to hear about how the First Minister’s Reading Challenge has inspired your community group to read for pleasure.
Let us know:
- How the children in your group felt about reading at the beginning of the year
- What activities you got involved in
- How the children feel about reading now
- How you plan to encourage them to read for pleasure in the future
Your entry can be in any format, from a written document, to a PowerPoint presentation or a video made by the children – it’s up to you.
Technical support
Registration
If your group has participated in the Reading Challenge before, your key contact can opt-in to this year's challenge quickly and easily. Just log in to your account and select yes when prompted to confirm you want to take part again.
If you need to change to a new key contact, you can contact us by email at readingchallenge@scottishbooktrust.com.
If your group hasn't taken part before, you can set up their registration for this year's challenge.