Teenage novels author Julia Clarke is throwing her weight behind a novel City of York Council initiative aimed at improving access to reading for looked after children.

Much-travelled Julia, who now lives in a farm in North Yorkshire, will be officially launching the council's Right to Read project at York Central Library on Friday (July 12).

The project is a joint libraries and children's services initiative and is the result of a council bid to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for £25,000 for the two year scheme.

The project aims to build upon similar pilot projects in other authorities but will also feature some innovative elements uniting children's services, librarians, foster carers, teachers and a specially appointed project officer, in working to improve leisure and learning opportunities for looked after children.

The project includes providing starter libraries, chosen by the children themselves, a series of fun events and activities to stimulate the enjoyment of reading, and study support schemes.

Right to Read project officer Nicky Copley said, "The project also aims to give more confidence in handling the world of information to help young people pursue their hobbies, interests and careers.

"The benefits already experienced by other pilot schemes include improved relationships in foster families and children's homes because sharing books means giving each other more time and attention, and naturally involves sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences."

Work towards the bid included a survey of reading habits of looked after young people which showed that 28 percent of respondents never read a story book or novel but 50 percent thought they would read more if they had better access to books.

The survey also showed that 39 percent never visited a public library and only 13 percent went often.

Nicky said, "All aspects of the project are designed to help stimulate the enjoyment of reading using appropriate, accessible formats. It aims to widen the social, educational and employment opportunities of children looked after by helping them access their own imagination and providing vital skills and experiences which support them in their future."

At Friday's launch Julia, whose fiction includes Breakers, The Starling Tree and her most recent novel Summertime Blues, will be talking about her life as a reader and how she became a writer. Head of libraries Annie Mauger and children's services head Pete Dwyer, the council's assistant community services director, will also be speaking to explain how the project will work. The event will be hosted by Councillor Viv Kind, the council's executive member for social services.

END