By discussing their writing and contributing their own ideas using BlackBerry handsets, the workshops also meet teens on their own terms - something the charity believes to be essential if they are to develop a lifelong passion for reading.
The Reading Agency is campaigning to transform the way libraries engage with young people and broaden the definition of reading. It has been revolutionising the reading experiences of teenagers through the social media reading network, Groupthing, and youth-led spaces like HeadSpace.
Michelle teamed up with the Reading Agency to run ‘Pride and Premiership’ through libraries after pilot work in schools showed that many girls in secondary education have low personal career goals and aspire to be footballer’s wives (WAGs). The workshops are based around a novel Michelle has written on this subject.
Michelle Gayle, said: “Hopefully these workshops will help young women to realise that they can use their intellect and natural talent to achieve what they want and inspire them to develop a lifelong love for reading and creative writing - something I am extremely passionate about.”
