TNRP wins City of Literature Award

Committee Members and authors at The East Anglian Book Awards                                  Photo: Andi Sapey@WritersCentre 

We are absolutely delighted to announce that The Norfolk Reading Project has won the first-ever City of Literature Award, supported by Norwich UNESCO City of Literature. A huge thank you to all who voted for us.

This new honour recognises individuals and organisations making an outstanding contribution to the region’s literary life through community engagement, publishing innovation, or literary advocacy.

We were presented with the award alongside the East Anglian Book Awards winners and nominees at a ceremony in the atmospheric, medieval Dragon Hall, home of the National Centre for Writing.

Anne Thorley accepted the trophy on behalf of all our volunteers who selflessly give up their time, week after week, to help children unlock the joy of reading.

Anne's acceptance speech:

Firstly, I would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers and supporters who voted for us - without our volunteers we wouldn't exist! I would also like to offer huge congratulations to all of the other finalists here this evening for all the fantastic work they do to inspire and engage our communities.

The Norfolk Reading Project was thrilled to be nominated for the inaugural City of Literature Award and it is an absolute privilege to win.

We are all here this evening to celebrate the wonderful world of books but many children (and adults) are locked out of this world because they struggle with reading.

The Norfolk Reading Project has been part of the reading ecosystem in Norfolk for 10 years and we would have hoped that literacy levels would have improved in this time. Unfortunately, one in four children are still leaving primary school unable to read well, which has a massive impact on future learning.

 This year - the designated Year of Reading - should present us all with the opportunity to encourage more children to feel confident with this life-changing skill. Improving literacy is not a job for any one organisation: it is a job for everyone!

So let's all get involved and, in the words of the National Literacy Trust, "Let's Go All In" to help solve this problem. Thank you.