As part of 2013 Summer Reading Challenge ('Creepy House'), The Reading Agency, Trinity College London, and A New Direction and our fellow bridge organisations worked in partnership to develop the 2013 activity-book ('The House and the Mouse'. This is a stand-alone resource for libraries to use in delivering Arts Award Discover.

Following discussions with London Library services, we worked with thirteen of the thirty-three Boroughs to pilot Arts Award Discover within Summer Reading Challenge, using 'The House and the Mouse' to support young people (7 ) to complete their Arts Award.

We're also able to offer the following support:

The boroughs that took part were:

  • Barking & Dagenham
  • Bexley, and Bromley (unified service across both boroughs)
  • Brent
  • Camden
  • Enfield
  • Hackney
  • Haringey
  • Havering
  • Lambeth
  • Newham
  • Redbridge
  • Westminster

To enable these boroughs to take part, A New Direction provided the following support:

  • Specialised day of free Arts Award Discover and Explore Adviser training (usually £110 per person) for library staff from each participating borough.
  • Free Arts Award Discover moderation for up to 100 young people across each participating library service (usually £2.50 per participant)
  • Free Summer Reading Challenge activity books (79p each) for young people involved in the pilot
  • Facilitation of a support cluster meeting with an Arts Award specialist

For more information, to find out more about what is happening in your borough, or (especially for young people, parents, schools and other organisations already delivering Arts Award) to find out relevant contacts for pilot activity in your area, please contact John McMahon or Anthony Ruck; both can also be reached on 020 7608 2132.

The House and the Mouse

Artist and illustrator of this year's Summer Reading Challenge, Chris Riddell presents the Arts Award booklet 'The House and the Mouse, Inside the world of Chris Riddell'.

About Arts Award

Arts Award's unique qualifications support young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. The programme develops their creativity, leadership and communication skills. Open to anyone aged 7 to 25, it embraces all interests and backgrounds. Through working towards an award young people learn to work independently, helping them to prepare for further education and employment.

Arts Award motivates and celebrates young people's artistic achievements. Young people can achieve an award through any arts, media or cultural activity, developing knowledge and understanding of their chosen art forms.

Arts Award is managed by Trinity College London in association with Arts Council England working with 10 regional Bridge organisations. A New Direction is part of this network, funded by Arts Council England, who lead on Arts Award regional development.

About Summer Reading Challenge

Each year independent charity The Reading Agency partners with libraries to create the Summer Reading Challenge, the UK's biggest children's reading promotion.

In 2012, 750,000 children aged 4-12 participated (12% of the age range population). Research shows the Challenge improves children's enjoyment of reading, as well as their reading range, confidence and motivation. It helps prevent the summer holiday dip in literacy skills (UKLA 2009).