Literacy Lookout

The Project

Salford Foundation’s Positive Action Project (PAP), with the generous support of BUPA delivered the Literacy Lookout initiative from January to June ’24 and ran in partnership with local schools such as All Hallows R.C. High School and Ellesmere Park High School. Our approach involved implementing a six-week project for Year 9 and 10 students, engaging them in interactive literacy activities. This included breaking the stigma around literacy and showcasing its importance in their current and future lives.

The Literacy Lookout Initiative was a project aimed at tackling one of Salford’s pressing challenges: low literacy rates among young people. With Salford’s youth falling into the bottom 10% of Local Authorities nationally for English attainment, there’s an urgent need for action to improve literacy skills and foster a greater love for reading and writing.

Project delivery

Weeks 1-3: The first three weeks of this programme were educational, interactive workshops that sought to break the mundane stigma around the word ‘literacy’. These three weeks took a deep dive into exploring the importance and different forms of literacy, practical strategies for improvement and engagement, its impact on our personal and professional development, and a highlight of how we could do something to not only benefit ourselves but our wider community.

Weeks 4-6: The last remaining weeks were when the students got to take the lead. They had the opportunity to demonstrate and develop a variety of skills, which culminated in a large-scale, public “Literacy Lookout Trail” event that took place on 8th June 2024. This event was held in person at Buile Hill Park and was created and developed exclusively by Year 9/10 students.

To make this event possible, groups of students took part in the following activities to help make the event a success by:

• Creating maps and clues to be hidden around the park
• Arranging event logistics
• Building book bins to take to local businesses.
• Creatively sourcing second handbooks to be given to younger children
• Promoting their hard work and event to younger primary school children
• Designing and presenting assemblies/presentations for both primary school-aged children and corporate businesses

This programme was offered at no cost to have the following impact:

• Enhanced literacy skills for both participants and the wider community
• Development of key skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organisation, corporate engagement, and event planning
• Confidence boost through leading a community-driven project.
• Fostering a sense of civic engagement and responsibility
• Being part of a small select group to significantly impact our community.