The Northern School of Writing’s Professor Jackie Kay was honoured to launch the National Year of Reading alongside Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland on Monday 19 January and take up the role of ambassador. The event featured other Scottish authors, local primary school children and Dennis the Menace (!), and took place at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The scheme has been initiated by the Department of Education and the National Literacy Trust (of which Her Majesty is Patron), and seeks to address the national decline in reading for pleasure. At The Northern School of Writing, The Salford Literacy Matters Network has been established to support reading for pleasure and create a local community of practice to enhance literacy work in the city. Prof Kay, joins award-winning Scottish authors Val McDermid and Sir Ian Rankin, as a National Year of Reading ambassador.
