The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation hosted a fantastic event, the Rugby Reading Champions Festival, on Thursday, June 15th. Kindly supported by Key Later Life Finance, the festival brought together 8 primary schools and 94 children from Fylde, Wyre, and Blackpool for a day filled with excitement and educational experiences.
The festival celebrated the children’s active participation in the Rugby Reading Champions programme, which took place throughout this academic year within their schools. This highly successful programme aims to nurture a love for reading in children, and the festival served as a testament to its positive impact on the young participants.
Throughout the day, the children engaged in various workshops and activities, providing them with unique experiences. The festival featured three workshops that focused on different aspects of the Rugby Reading Champions programme.
Led by the foundation’s sports coaches, one workshop centred on enjoyable tag rugby activities and games. The children actively participated in interactive sessions that showcased rugby’s core values, emphasising teamwork and sportsmanship.
The “Meet the Author” workshop featured renowned writer Tom Palmer, the author of the books the children had been reading. Tom Palmer engaged the young minds with a lively quiz and an engaging question and answer session. The children were delighted as Tom Palmer graciously signed autographs, creating lasting memories for all.
Loudspeaker LTD facilitated the third workshop, conducting a mini-speaker session that incorporated fun games. The focus was on building resilience, confidence, and supporting the transition from primary to secondary school. This interactive workshop provided valuable insights and tools for the children to navigate challenges and enhance self-assurance.
To mark the occasion, the children were honoured to receive their prizes from Tony Attard DL and OBE, the esteemed Deputy Lord Lieutenant. Tony Attard commended the children for their dedication to the Rugby Reading Champions programme and presented them with well-deserved recognition.
The Key Later Life Finance Rugby Reading Champions Festival was a resounding success, bringing together children, educators, authors, sports coaches, and community leaders in a shared vision of inspiring young minds through literature and sport.
