Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS) is an educational project that harnesses the motivational power of football to encourage families to enjoy reading. It targets those hard to reach groups in society who may not have shown an interest in reading, but who do have a passion for football.
Each of the 20 Premier League clubs nominate a Reading Champion to recommend his favourite book. Each club then adopts local public libraries who host reading clubs based on the book choices of all 20 Premier League Reading Champions. Both the children and parents attend the reading club, also enjoying a visit to a bookshop, a session with a published football author and a visit to the club stadium. Some lucky readers may also get to meet their favourite team's Reading Champion!
All partner libraries are supplied with free copies of the Players' book choices, as well as 20 additional popular children's titles for the group. Participating children also receive football gifts and t shirts, earning certificates of achivement awarded at the end of project presentation ceremony.
The scheme has been running since 2003, with 85 different Premier League players having acted as Reading Champions. Over 4000 parents and children have participated in PLRS library groups since the beginning of the project and over 10,000 books have been read.
Premier League Reading Stars is a unique partnership between the Football Foundation, Premier League, National Literacy Trust and Arts Council England. Please click on a logo below to go to one of the project partner's websites.
