The Sharing Stories project aims to develop adult literacy around Lancashire. The project will work with a variety of groups who struggle with literacy in the broadest sense of understanding, interpreting, creating, communicating, and sharing a love of words. Across Lancashire significant numbers of adults struggle with literacy and reading. This has a direct effect on children’s literacy which in many parts of Lancashire falls below the National Average by the age of 11.

Through the Better World Books Literacy Grant, Lancashire County Council Libraries will be working with a number of adult groups across the county to provide a series of open and welcoming opportunities in a safe environment where literacy is fun, there are no mistakes only learning, and support is always there. These opportunities will give adults with low literacy the confidence to connect in branch and digitally (audio and e-books). Sharing Stories aims to support more adults across Lancashire to have a more fulfilled and productive life.

Sharing Stories will include family storytime sessions, audiobooks awareness, supporting English as a second language and shared reading with adults with a learning disability.  Across Lancashire, there are 59 libraries and all the branches will be participating in Sharing Stories and developing staff awareness and skills to support literacy development with adults.

“This is really great news. The grant for our Sharing Stories project will enable us to develop adult literacy, reading and a love of stories by working with a variety of different groups, including adults with a learning disability, adults who have English as a second language and adults who struggle with low literacy. I know how hard these grants are to achieve and this success is strong recognition of the excellent work of our library service.”

County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for community and cultural services