Free match tickets for young readers with 4-4-2 Reading Challenge
High Life Highland has teamed up with Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community (ICT) Trust and Inverness Caledonian Football Club (ICTFC) to encourage children to discover the joy of reading, with free football tickets available to those who complete the exciting 4-4-2 Reading Challenge.
ICTFC players Remi Savage and Alfie Stewart, along with ICT Community Trust coaches Kieran Watson and Alex Geddes called into Inverness Library yesterday (Monday 28 September) to meet with library staff and officially launch the new collaboration.
The initiative has been developed and is run nationally by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust. It is aimed at primary school pupils aged 5 to 12, encouraging them to visit their local library, borrow books that interest them and develop positive reading habits.
For every book successfully read and returned, participants will receive a sticker on their challenge card. Once four stickers have been collected, children can exchange their completed card for a free match ticket to watch Inverness Caledonian Thistle in action. Parents and carers can also take advantage of a discounted adult ticket for the same fixture.
The challenge combines the excitement of football with the benefits of reading, helping to inspire young people to build confidence, improve literacy skills and develop a lifelong love of books.
Kieran Watson from the ICT Community Trust said, “We know that some children connect better with reading when it involves material about a subject they already love or if there is a strong incentive – such as in this case – tickets to a football game. We are really excited about this collaboration with High Life Highland Libraries and look forward to seeing lots of avid young readers at games this season ahead.”
Julie Corcoran, Head of Libraries at High Life Highland said, “We are absolutely delighted to be teaming up with Caley Thistle on this exciting initiative. Reading and sport both have the power to inspire, build confidence and bring people together, so this partnership is a fantastic way to encourage children to develop a love of books while connecting with the excitement of football. We hope lots of families will get involved, visit their local library and discover just how enjoyable reading can be.”
To get started, all families have to do is to sign up at Inshes, Culloden or Inverness libraries and receive a 4-4-2 Reading Challenge collector card, choose some books, read and return them to collect stickers. Once four stickers have been collected, the completed card can be taken to the ICTFC ticket office and exchanged for a free match day ticket with discounted adult tickets available for participating home matches.
The 4-4-2 Reading Challenge is a partnership between the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the SPFL Trust, designed to inspire children to read for pleasure through the power of football.
Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to speak to staff at their local library.