Record numbers of youngsters join this yr’s Summer Reading Challenge

Posted on Wednesday twenty fourth September 2025

Watch Hayley Coles talk about this year’s record numbers and what Staffordshire’s libraries offer here

A file variety of youngsters have signed up for and accomplished this yr’s Summer Reading Challenge in Staffordshire.

The problem, run by Staffordshire County Council’s Libraries service, noticed greater than 10,500 youngsters enroll, in comparison with 9,787 final yr. Of these younger readers, aged as much as 11 years previous, 6,632 accomplished the problem and gained their hard-earned medals, certificates and seed form for planting.

Running all through the summer time holidays, the scheme aimed to maintain youngsters studying through the six-week break by finishing six books of their alternative.  This yr’s occasion ran with a ‘Story Garden’ theme, encouraging youngsters discover the pure world. 

Ana, aged 5, took this yr’s problem at Stone Library. She stated:

“I really loved taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge and reading the books. I really like my library and can’t wait to go back again and get some more books.”

The problem additionally concerned a whole lot of occasions throughout the county’s libraries, resembling readings by a preferred youngsters’s writer and Dr Dolittle story adventures.

Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, stated:

“It’s incredible to see so many youngsters collaborating on this yr’s Summer Reading Challenge and I’d wish to say an enormous properly performed to all of them.

“Reading is such an important skill for children and the younger they start the better. Sparking a love of books and reading not only helps them develop vital skills for life, but also helps fire up their imagination.  Having visited many libraries over the summer I saw the huge effort staff and volunteers went to that made the event such a huge success.  Again, well done to everyone involved.”

Staffordshire libraries have an enormous programme of occasions and actions working all yr spherical and folks can discover out extra by visiting their webpage.