The Leicester Tigers Foundation team have had to take a break from delivering the Rugby Reading Champions programme in schools, but the club’s Community department are still encouraging families to keep reading at home.

Laurence Walters is a Tigers rugby development officer and lead deliverer for Rugby Reading Champions. He says: “Unfortunately COVID-19 has meant we have had to postpone our delivery of Rugby Reading Champions in schools. The programme has been hugely successful in inspiring pupils to read more, in and out of school, and we want to encourage all pupils to continue to read as much as possible while they’re at home.

“As well as being a great way to pass the time, reading is also fantastic at helping us to relax and reduce stress and anxiety.”

The ‘Family Zone’ has been created by the National Literacy Trust, containing ideas and guidance for fun, and simple activities at home that will help children with their reading and writing.

Rugby Reading Champions is funded by Try for Change and was developed by the National Literacy Trust.

The programme involves 10 weeks of sessions delivered in primary schools, aimed at inspiring pupils to read more and improve their reading skills. So far this season we have delivered the programme to pupils in eight local schools and there has been a great response from teachers and pupils.

Assistant head Alex Ashcroft, from Rowlatts Mead Primary School in Leicester, said: “The children thoroughly enjoying the Rugby Reading Champions programme delivered by Leicester Tigers.

“They have developed both their love for reading and many strategies to improve their reading ability. From a teacher’s perspective, it is definitely a worthwhile intervention for the development of reading.”

If anyone is interested in finding out more about Rugby Reading Champions or would like to support the work of the Tigers Foundation, please contact David McDonald by emailing [email protected]