When the Centre Manager of the Pirates' Learning Zone needed a keen reader and role model for a planned reading project he didn't have any problem finding a player who is renowned for his interest in reading.

Cornish Pirate player Nick Makin volunteered to be part of the Reading Champion initiative developed and promoted by the National Literacy Trust.

The aim of the project is to raise boys' interest and attainment in reading by promoting positive role models. Reading Champions include many England footballers, England cricketers and tennis players. Nick heard about the project and as a keen reader was eager to be involved.

Nick is very enthusiastic about reading and transmits this to the primary and secondary children who attend the Playing for Success study support sessions.

Since Nick began visiting the Centre to talk to children staff at the Learning Zone has had positive feedback from both children and parents on how reading habits have changed in their household.

Pirates' Learning Zone Centre Manager Kevin Jackson said, "Nick's input into the Playing for Success programme has always had a fantastic affect on the children he meets, he has a great rapport with the children and is a real inspiration. Since becoming the Reading Champion we have had parents commenting that their children have now started to read and boys who have attended the session now think reading is cool. What more could be asked for?"

During the study support sessions Children are given the opportunity to interview Nick about his rugby career and his reading habits, they are then given an opportunity to take books home and enter into a competition based on book reviews and how many books they read.

Rewards include match day tickets and signed balls. Children taking part in the reading programme this term include children from Mousehole, Ludgvan and Leedstown Primary schools and Humphry Davy Secondary school.

Boys really respond well to meeting Nick and it really makes a difference to have male readers who are willing to stand up and say 'I read and I can see value to reading.' This is exactly what the England football stars are saying and this is Nick's message. For full details of Nicks interview and more details on the Reading Champions imitative visit www.literacytrust.org.uk