Nick Makin leaves the Pirates this season to pursue a career in the City. Learning
Zone Salutes Reading Champion Who Gave So Much
.  | | Nick
Makin with some of the kids who benefitted from his contribution |
His
involvement in the Reading Champions iniative has been immeasurable at the Pirates
Learning Zone, part of the Playing for Success iniative. Over the course of two
years Nick gave 50 hours to the iniative, meeting and discussing reading over
300 children. How can we measure the lasting impact on children that never read
and now do? Parents were keen to meet the Nick during presentation evenings.
One of the best quotes we had was that "my son never read and now he
does, how did you do that?" What impact will that have on the children
he convinced that reading is, indeed, a valuable pastime. Nick
would visit the Study Support sessions every term and children would interview
him about his life as a professional rugby player and reader. Nick would involve
the children by having on hand his kit bag and children would pullout items and
children would try on his kit. This was fabulous as an
ice breaker and gave the children confidence in asking Nick intimate questions
that related to his inspiration and enthusiasm for reading. Children
were then given books to choose from and of course, they were quick to have their
books authenticated by a signature from the reading champion. Books reviews from
the children were brilliant and the children went back to school with renewed
enthusiasm about what could be achieved from reading. A
big good luck and thanks from all the staff at the Cornish Pirates and a big shout
from children of Cornwall whose lives have been affected by a positive male role
model who gave his time voluntarily to support the Reading iniative supported
by the Literacy Trust.  | 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?" |
 | 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
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