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Quick Reads Survey – How have Quick Reads supported you?

Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Over 3 million Quick Reads books have been distributed over the last five years, having a significant impact on the literacy landscape.

To help Quick Reads to continue to support your work next year, a short online evaluation form has been developed to ask your views on the books, materials and resources, as well as your ideas for future developments.   

Fill in an online evaluation form

Submit your evaluation form by Friday 30 July. Everyone who enters will receive 20 Quick Reads pens and will also be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win 60 Quick Reads titles and a ready assembled display stand.

Quick Reads 2011 Ten brand new Quick Reads titles will be announced in September, and published on World Book Day, 3 March 2011.

Quick Reads hit three million

Friday, 11 June 2010

The literacy campaign Quick Reads hit 3 million copies in net distribution figures this week.

Organisers said the readership total for the accessible titles by well-known writers was considerably higher, as the Quick Reads books were frequently used in settings where they are read by several people, such as prisons and adult education colleges, as well as loaned from libraries.

Trade support for Quick Reads was said to be "strong throughout 2009 and 2010", with over 200 Tesco stores stocking the books, plus displays in Asda and Sainsburys, while W H Smith travel hospital franchise stores also stocked the books for the first time.

They were published on World Book Day, which this year was 4th March.

Meanwhile the Peter James Quick Read ‘A Perfect Murder’ has moved into the number one position on the iPad chart: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/120568-james-does-the-double-in-uk-first-for-digital-and-physical-sales.html.

Quick Reads became digital this year, their fifth anniversary, with the titles made available as apps for the iPhone and iPad, and as downloads direct to computers and e-readers from the Quick Reads website.

Quick Reads title is a best-seller on Apple iPad.

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

The Perfect Murder, by Peter James has been announced as the second best-selling book for the Apple iPad, read the full story here.

The title was one of ten brand new Quick Reads that were published on World Book Day, 4 March 2010. Peter James has also recently been recognised as the Quick Reads Readers’ Favourite author 2010, following an online poll to select this year’s most popular title.

Gail Rebuck honoured as adult learners vote Peter James their favourite Quick Read author

Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Peter James and Gail Rebuck with their awards, alongside Alan Tuckett of NIACEDame Gail Rebuck CBE, Chair of Quick Reads and CEO of The Random House Group, received a special award at the Adult Learners’ Week 2010 National Awards Ceremony in London today, Friday 21 May.  The award was made in recognition of her outstanding contribution to literacy learning in the UK.

She paid tribute to the many adult learners recognized at this year’s ceremony, all of whom, she said, had shown particular courage in overcoming extraordinary challenges.  She also thanked the Quick Reads authors and publishers and the many Quick Reads funders and partners who had helped make the initiative such a success in the last five years.

Gail then presented crime writer Peter James with the Quick Reads Readers’ Favourite Award.  Voted for by readers and adult learners using the 2010 Quick Reads titles, Peter was honoured for his book The Perfect Murder. 

A darkly humorous take on the demise of a long-suffering married couple, The Perfect Murder was one of ten new Quick Reads titles published on World Book Day, 4 March 2010. 

It was chosen as this year’s favourite Quick Read via an online poll and beat off stiff competition from other 2010 Quick Read authors including Rolf Harris, Cathy Kelly, Alvin Hall, Alison Weir and Andy McNab.  Voters included adult literacy groups, Union Learning Representatives and library visitors along with the general public who have purchased the books.

One adult learner, aged 26 from Nottingham, commented “I loved this book –I never much liked reading at school, but this is funny, interesting and gives you ideas! I've got a small baby so not much time for reading, but I could really get stuck into this and I didn't want to put it down. I've asked my tutor to get me all the other QR books!”

Peter said of his win "I am utterly thrilled to receive this award.  In my view, a life without reading books is only half a life.  This wonderful Quick Reads initiative is spreading the joys and riches of reading to hundreds of thousands of people.  For every good book they go on to read, they have a gift for life that can never be taken away."

Carol Taylor, NIACE Director of Operations commented, “Well done to Peter James on winning this award. He is a great writer - exciting and challenging books, with just the right amount of detail and lots of twists and turns to keep you hooked. And The Perfect Murder is also very funny, and very close to home for many of us!”

Quick Reads are brilliantly written new books by bestselling authors and celebrities.  Part of a campaign to get people reading across the UK and Ireland, the books are perfect for people new to reading, with little time or who simply fancy a fast, fun read.   

Previous winners of the Quick Reads Learners’ Favourite Award are Patience Thompson, for 101 Way to get your Child to Read in 2009; Adele Parks for her book Happy Families, in 2008; Ricky Tomlinson for Reading My Arse! in 2007 and Minette Walters who won the inaugural prize in 2006 for her book Chickenfeed.

 

Readers’ Poll to find this year’s favourite Quick Read launched!

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Since their launch in 2006, Quick Reads have helped thousands of people get back into the reading habit.

Ten new titles were published on World Book Day, 4 March 2010, and we’d like to know which is this year’s most popular title. The book with the highest number of votes is named the Quick Reads Readers’ Favourite Award winner 2010.

Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced during Adult Learners’ Week in May.

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall visits Foyles bookshop in Westfield London on World Book Day

Friday, 5 March 2010

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall at Foyles

To mark World Book Day, 4 March 2010, Her Royal Highness joined a group of adult learners and children, to celebrate reading.

The Duchess of Cornwall met a group of adult learners from City Lit, the adult education centre in Covent Garden, who were listening to a talk by the novelist and historian Alison Weir, who has written a book for this year’s Quick Reads series.

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of CornwallAn important adult literacy initiative, Quick Reads is a series of books by best-selling authors written especially for adults who struggle with literacy or who have simply lost the reading habit.  There are ten new Quick Reads published today. Alongside Alison’s Weir’s book, Traitors in the Tower, are books by Andy McNab, Cathy Kelly, Rolf Harris, Peter James and Bernardine Evaristo.

Her Royal Highness also met pupils from Avondale Park Primary School, North Kensington, at a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, hosted by Foyles Bookshop to celebrate World Bok Day, the UK’s largest celebration of books and reading.

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall meeting adult learnersThirty pupils, aged 7-8 years, enjoyed listening to The Duchess of Cornwall read an extract from Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.  Dan Freedman, one of this year’s World Book Day £1 book authors, was also at the event. Six specially written WBD £1 books are published today.

Her Royal Highness met the Chair of World Book Day, Victoria Barnsley, who is CEO of HarperCollins Publishers and Sam Husain, CEO of Foyles, amongst others.

This event was one of hundreds organised in bookshops, libraries, schools, book clubs, workplaces and adult education centres across the UK to mark World Book Day and the fifth anniversary of Quick Reads.  All across the country, the Read to a Million Kids initiative saw over 800,000 pupils listen to authors and actors reading from books online.

Photos courtesy of Frank Noon

Exclusive audio recordings of this year's Quick Reads on BBC raw

Thursday, 4 March 2010

BBC raw are proud to be partners with the Quick Reads initiative to help promote adult literacy. To listen to exclusive recordings from this year's new releases read either by the authors, Dominic Little, Janet Dibley or Rupert Degas just visit www.bbc.co.uk/raw/words/quickreads

If you feel inspired to read more stories you may also be interested in taking a look at the real stories submitted to the BBC's My Story campaign www.bbc.co.uk/mystory

BBC raw aims to help adults with skills for everyday life and covers words, numbers, computers and money. With plenty of videos, quizzes and activities you can find a wealth of information.

Try raw Quick Reads for audio clips of this year's releases and downloadable PDFs. Watch Lenny Henry and Nina Wadia on raw words and get inspired to write your own stories. Brush up on everyday maths on raw numbers by finding the maths involved in F1 racing or understand how to work out how much money you'll save with those discounts in the sales. On raw money you can find out your money personality type and ways to help save money and spend wisely.

For factsheets, quizzes and games try the much loved BBC Skillswise www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise.

Come on a learning journey with BBC raw and improve you skills for everyday life.

Quick Reads transform reading habits

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Quick Reads, the short, fast-paced books for adults, are transforming the UK's reading habits by improving the literacy levels of adults and their attitudes to books and learning, according to research published by NIACE today - World Book Day.

From evaluation data of nearly 400 literacy tutors, the research shows that nearly all of them (97%) believe Quick Reads have been useful in helping their learners to progress.

The survey from NIACE - published today for World Book Day, the fifth Anniversary of Quick Reads, to coincide with the publication of ten new Quick Reads - of adult literacy tutors who, between them, represent at least 32,000 learners, also found that:

  • 90% of learning providers have seen changes in learners' attitudes towards reading since using Quick Reads, with 86% reporting an increase in learners' confidence;
  • 76% of learning providers said that Quick Reads improved their learners' communication skills and 53% stated that learners' written skills had improved;
  • 62% of learning providers estimated that at least half of their learners go on to read other Quick Read books and 48% estimated that half or more of their learners progress to read other books;
  • 61% of learning providers told us that their learners had progressed into further learning; and
  • 40% of learning providers believed that at least half of their learners have gone on to enrol on other learning courses. 

Further NIACE research from over 100 Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) - representing at least 21,750 employees across the country - who provide access in workplaces to Quick Reads (and other learning) has found that:

  • 82% of ULRs reported that their colleagues have felt encouraged to read in their free time (at work) since using Quick Reads;
  • 65% of ULRs agreed that staff are now reading for pleasure as a result of Quick Reads and 63% said staff are now reading different books;
  • around half (49%) of ULRs reported that staff are more likely to engage in learning at work, reporting that 62% of staff are now engaged in literacy, numeracy and English language learning and more than half (52%) of staff are now engaged in both on-the-job learning and off-the-job training;
  • 41% of ULRs have seen an improvement in employees' communication skills;
  • 68% of ULRs had observed positive changes in staff attitude and behaviour; and
  • in 52% of workplaces, Quick Reads has improved workplace morale.

Tutors commenting on Quick Reads as part of this research, said:

  • "Several of my learners had never read a book before in their lives. They are now regular readers. This is a direct result of using the Quick Reads series. It has given them the confidence to continue their English studies and achieve both qualifications and improved literacy skills."
  • "They are more willing to encourage their children's reading and some have even signed up at the library as a family."
  • "I now use Quick Reads in every lesson. The series has proved to be an invaluable tool for both English learners and Creative Writing students. I discover so many different things every time I use them. They are the most popular books I have ever used. I am delighted to have the possibility to have them available. Well done to Quick Reads!"
  • "As confidence has risen so have learners' attitudes towards education within the family. There is more of an interest in children's learning and more games are played with the family e.g. Scrabble."
  • "One learner would never go for promotion because she couldn't complete the forms. After using Quick Reads she developed her reporting writing skills and has now achieved promotion."

Carol Taylor, an Operational Director at NIACE, said:

"Once again our research has shown the phenomenal impact Quick Reads are having. No one could have imagined five years ago just how essential these books have become to quality literacy learning. They appear to be just everyday short stories, but Quick Reads are not only transforming the reading habits of the UK, but the lives of learners, parents, families, workers, in fact the whole of society is seeing very obvious benefits. Who knows what another five years of Quick Reads might achieve?"

Kathy Gale, Project Director, Quick Reads, said:

"There has never been a more important time for people in the UK and Ireland to improve their skills, to secure their own futures in troubled times and because a more skilled population supports recovery from recession. Quick Reads has provided an opportunity for people to increase their literacy, their written and communication skills, and their confidence and self-esteem. It has encouraged increased learning, and changes in attitude, behaviour and morale at work. We hope that Quick Reads is making a significant difference to patterns of literacy in the UK and Ireland and contributing towards economic growth. Quick Reads are making a significant difference to patterns of literacy in the UK and Ireland."

Quick Reads was launched on World Book Day in March 2006, with the aim of reaching out to the millions of adults in the UK with reading difficulties and the one third of the British population who never pick up a book. They are specially written by bestselling authors and well-known people for both emergent readers and for readers wanting a short, fast-paced read.

The ten new Quick Reads titles published today are:


Families learning on World Book Day

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

The Family Learning Breakfasts - held on World Book Day, Thursday 4 March 2010 - are designed to encourage the whole family to read together. The breakfasts - piloted in schools in Sheffield, Derbyshire, Rotherham, the Isle of Wight and Tower Hamlets in London - will help raise standards of literacy for both parents and children and to extend parents' skills in supporting their children.

Doctor Who author Terrance Dicks, who has written two Quick Reads books - Revenge of the Judoon and Made of Steel - will be visiting Kobi Nazrul Primary School in Tower Hamlets to talk to children and their parents about his books.

Carol Taylor, Operational Director at NIACE, who will also attend the breakfast event at Kobi Nazrul Primary School, said:

"We know that poor literacy skills not only impact on the lives of adults but also on the lives of their children. A recent Ofsted survey suggests that family learning not only helps adults to improve their skills, but that learning in this way helps develop the communication and self - confidence of their children."

"The Family Learning Breakfasts are just one of many steps to help get adults and children reading and learning together. Quick Reads have transformed thousands of lives through learning in colleges and community centres, libraries, prisons and workplaces across the country. With these Family Learning Breakfasts, our aim is to encourage families to read together at home."

Downloadable information packs are available to schools and family centres via the Quick Reads and World Book Day websites, with guidelines on how schools can set up a Family Learning Breakfast.

A range of brand new children's books published on World Book Day will be read by the children, and the new Quick Reads books - written especially for adults new to reading - will be available for parents.

Since Quick Reads' inception in March 2006, over one and a quarter million copies have been sold. As well as being brilliant short books for regular readers, they have introduced hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, who have not picked up a book since school, to the world of reading. One of its champions, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, described Quick Reads as, ‘one of the great success stories of the English language'.

Quick Reads announces new digital intiative

Friday, 26 February 2010

Quick Reads is this year reaching out to even more potential readers with an innovative new digital scheme. The major adult literacy initiative, which celebrates its fifth anniversary in March, is now taking books, by best-selling writers and celebrities, direct to the computers and mobile phones of new and non-readers.

From World Book Day, Thursday 4th March, the brand new Quick Read titles - from bestselling authors including Cathy Kelly, Andy McNab, Peter James, Rolf Harris and Alvin Hall - will be available as apps on the Apple iPod and iPhone and as downloads direct to computers and e-readers.

To kick-off the digital campaign, one of the previous titles – The Thief by Ruth Rendell - will be available as a free download here for the week of launch.

Kathy Gale, Quick Reads Project Director comments:

"This is an important step for Quick Reads. Over the past five years we have undertaken a major outreach campaign to provide people who are not reading with great books designed to get them hooked. With Quick Reads available digitally on computers and phones, we are not expecting them to come to the printed book, we are taking books to them.  Talks are underway with other digital providers and we hope to have more to announce soon."

The apps, produced by award-winning digital publisher Enhanced Editions, allow users to choose their font and text size. They also use the device accelerometer (which detects when the device is being tilted) to scroll the page, offer a bedtime-friendly night reading mode and encourage users to send excerpts to friends via email.  All of the Enhanced Editions apps come with a short sample of the other nine titles, plus a live feed of the latest news about the authors and partners involved in Quick Reads.

The digitization of Quick Reads will make a great difference to adult learners, particularly those with dyslexia or impaired sight, who may find it difficult to access print of any kind. With Quick Reads available on computers, mobile phones and e-readers, learners can manipulate text on a screen to their convenience as well as use a screen reader.

New Quick Reads competition launched

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

To celebrate their fifth anniversary, Quick Reads are offering ten lucky readers, their tutor or Union Learning Representative and a friend, the chance to win an expenses-paid trip to London, to meet a bestselling Quick Reads author at a high-profile awards ceremony. The competition closes on Friday, 26 February 2010.

Fifty runners-up will win a set of the Quick Reads 2010 titles for their learning provider or workplace.

To enter the competition, entrants need to answer the question ‘How have Quick Reads made a difference to your life?’ The stories of people’s lives collected through the campaign will also be used in a nationwide publicity campaign to encourage more people to read.

The competition is now closed.

Celebrate family learning on World Book Day

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Schools across the country are being asked to hold Family Learning Breakfasts on World Book Day, 4th March 2010, to encourage children and their parents to read and learn together.

Have you considered holding a Family Learning Breakfast ? A planning toolkit - [PDF] is available, and there are a range of resources and Quick Reads books available now to support your activity. Do something different this World Book Day. Email quickreads@niace.org.uk for more information.

Quick Reads changes lives

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Quick Reads have had a dramatic impact on the lives of thousands of adults across the country, including many who had never read before. In this film we hear from learners in Leeds, Redbridge and Tameside, who talk about their early struggles with reading as children, their courage in returning to learning as adults and how reading Quick Reads has given them a new love in life – books.

Play Video

Play video - [WMV format - 7 MB]

Quick Reads essential for adults learning literacy

Thursday, 5 November 2009

The difference Quick Reads have made to learners across the country will be demonstrated to adult learning providers and tutors at three national Skills for Life Conferences, organised by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service. The first was held in London on Tuesday 3 November and the next two will be in Leeds on 18 November and in Birmingham on 23 November.

A film - produced by Coracle Films and NIACE - featuring literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners from Leeds, Redbridge and Tameside will be shown to delegates at the conferences and will illustrate just how effective Quick Reads have been in helping learners overcome their fears of reading and discover the joys of books.

The next World Book Day - 4th March 2010 - will be the fifth anniversary of the Quick Reads initiative. Since its inception in March 2006, over one and a quarter million books have reached hundreds of thousands of new readers and helped to change the face of adult literacy in the UK and Ireland. It has been described as ‘one of the great success stories of the English language' by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown, MP.

 Ten new Quick Reads titles have already been announced for World Book Day 2010. Bestselling authors Andy McNab, Val McDermid and Cathy Kelly, together with television personalities Rolf Harris and Alvin Hall, are among the authors who provide brand-new books for the fifth anniversary list.

 The fifth anniversary titles are:

  • Last Night Another Soldier by Andy McNab (Corgi Books)
  • The Perfect Holiday by Cathy Kelly (HarperCollins)
  • The Perfect Murder by Peter James (Pan)
  • Doctor Who: Code of the Krillitanes by Justin Richards (BBC Books)
  • Hello Mum by Bernardine Evaristo (Penguin)
  • Money Magic: Seven Simple Steps to True Financial Freedom by Alvin Hall (Hodder)
  • Traitors of the Tower by Alison Weir (Vintage)
  • We Won the Lottery: Real Life Winner Stories by Danny Buckland (Accent Press)
  • Life's Too Short: True Stories About Life at Work with foreword by Val McDermid (Bantam Books)
  • Buster Fleabags by Rolf Harris (Corgi Books)

Richard Crabb, NIACE Team Leader Campaigns, said:

"The Quick Reads initiative has had a remarkable impact on the lives of learners and the role of tutors. We hear time and time again how Quick Reads have filled a much-needed gap in the teaching of literacy to adults. And you only have to hear the learners' stories to appreciate the astonishing effects these books have had."

Learners from Leeds, Redbridge and Tameside talked about their struggles with reading and writing and how important Quick Reads have been.

"Looking at people who could read and write, I used to think, ‘how intelligent that is', and the more I tried it never ever sunk through. When I had my own children, that's when I realised that I have to read and write. [After reading Quick Reads] I found myself reading without really noticing. The more you do it, the more excited you get and the more you want to learn. It's just like magic. I can go to the library now, can go on computers now when I was scared to before - everything's an open door."

"I got to the point where I thought I was stupid and ‘thick' because I couldn't read and I couldn't write. I found out I was dyslexic. [Coming back to learning] I was so scared. I walked in and nearly walked back out again but I knew I had to do something. With the Quick Reads it was, as a beginner, fantastic because it's not too much to begin with and as you get better you want more of them. You just emotionally connect to some of the characters and that is something I didn't have before. For me that's a big thing. It's the best thing I ever did because it's improved everything. "

"I kept thinking, ‘why didn't I have this when I was younger?', then I could have had a lifetime of enjoying books, instead of being afraid of them."

"Before, I was reading Harry Potter, but that book was very hard. In that book there are big words. I can't understand the meaning. At first I read this Quick Read then my English really improved and then I can read really thick books, just like Harry Potter."

"I like reading books, I didn't used to like them at one time, but now I can't put them down."

Marjorie Lynette, a tutor from Leeds City College, said:

"I think the thing with the Quick Reads is, you get a story that appeals to an adult intellect, but is presented in language and a style which means it can be accessed by beginner and emerging readers. People feel pleased that they're part of a book group, there's a bit of kudos with that."

 

Quick Reads - Ten new books announced

Friday, 2 October 2009

Quick Reads - the major initiative which brings books by bestselling writers and well-known personalities to people who; have lost the reading habit, find reading tough, or simply want a fast, fun read - celebrates its 5th anniversary on World Book Day, 4 March 2010.

The ten new titles co-incide with major new branding, marketing and promotion plans; including a new website.

Bestselling authors Andy McNab, Val McDermid and Cathy Kelly, together with television personalities Rolf Harris and Alvin Hall are among the authors who provide brand-new books for the 5th anniversary list.

The 5th anniversary titles are:

Since its inception in March 2006, over one and a quarter million books have reached hundreds of thousands of new readers and helped to change the face of literacy in the UK and Ireland.

Quick Reads has been described as ‘one of the great success stories of the English language', by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Gail Rebuck, Chair of Quick Reads, says:

"The publishing industry should be extremely proud of Quick Reads' achievements and impact over the past five years. Quick Reads has not only transformed the lives of thousands of people by improving their confidence, skills and self-esteem but also by helping them discover the joys of reading. It is vital that as an industry we continue to support Quick Reads and encourage our readers of the future."

For its fifth anniversary and beyond, Quick Reads will continue to reach and support adults with literacy issues and to provide great, short reads for regular readers. However it also aims to transform the reading patterns of those adults who consider reading irrelevant or dull.

David from Leicestershire comments:

"After many years of avoiding books I found myself being introduced to Quick Reads when I joined my English class. Because of my lack of confidence and ability to read even from primary school days I could never read a book or take in what the contents were about. It is only now at the age of forty that I have started to really enjoy reading."

Visitors to the Quick Reads website will find a vibrant new look and new titles will be made available as downloads from the New Year.

Quick Reads will launch a major outreach campaign - co-ordinated by NIACE - to practitioners working with emergent readers, engaging over 11,000 organisations in the campaign and ensuring availability in, amongst other places;

  • adult education centres
  • colleges
  • workplaces
  • learning centres
  • prisons
  • hospitals
  • stroke recovery units
  • dyslexia centres
  • care homes
  • community centres
  • family learning groups
  • pre-schools
  • projects for people whose first language is not English
  • organisations working with homeless people and traveller and Gypsy communities, and
  • RAF bases.

 

 

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