press release: GLL
'Better' summer reading challenge 2023 a soaring success
20 Oct 2023
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2023/HIGH352009_479568_475894.jpg)
Better-operated libraries in Wandsworth, Lincolnshire, Bromley, Greenwich and Dudley signed up for the Ready, Set, Go scheme / GLL
Under the title, ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ young bookworms in Better-operated libraries in Wandsworth, Lincolnshire, Bromley, Greenwich and Dudley signed up for the scheme in July and were set the task of reading six library books over the holidays. The keen readers received stickers for each one completed which allowed them to complete a fictional obstacle course in their activity packs and locate mysterious, ‘golden’ books.
Children’s author and illustrator Loretta Schauer created six characters for this year’s challenge – Noah, Naveen, Naomi, Alesha, Sophia and Ollie – to inspire and encourage participants to get active and keep reading. A dedicated website to go with the scheme offered games, puzzles and interviews with authors.
This annual project run by The Reading Agency in partnership with local libraries aims to foster a love of reading in young people – vital to a child’s academic success and wellbeing in later life. Studies have also found that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of empathy and are more resilient to life’s difficulties.
Better’s libraries also offered activities such as arts and crafts, boxercise, karate and ‘meet your local sports hero’ events. In Wandsworth, Bromley and Greenwich, our libraries worked in partnership with the GLL Sport Foundation to arrange events with Olympic medal winner Jade Johnson and Boxing Champion Ella Harris. In Lincolnshire, Paralympian Chris Harris handed out certificates while Lincoln FC player Hayden Cann answered questions on his life and sporting career.
Lincolnshire literati Connie and Stan (pictured) have been taking part in the SRC every year since they were four and five years old. Connie is a big fan of the Isadora Moon series by Harriet Muncaster while Stan likes Marcus Rashford’s Breakfast Club books.
Charitable social enterprise GLL operates libraries in the UK under the brand name ‘Better’. Its ethos is to invest in the wellbeing of local communities and the Summer Reading Challenge is an important part of that commitment.
More press releases and updates from GLL:
After an incredibly competitive season, the London Youth Games Finals Festival took place at
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New research highlights the importance of children’s swimming lessons as more primary schools
reduce mandatory lessons.
More than 500 visitors took part in a host of sports and leisure activities on Sunday 16th
June as part of London Pride’s inaugural 2024 Out for Sport Festival at the iconic Crystal
Palace National Sports Centre.
Better’s Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom has maintained its ‘Excellent’ status from QUEST –
the Quality Scheme for Sport and Leisure.This follows a mystery visit from the organisation
in April plus a planned audit in May.
Great news for GLL’s successful association with the UK’s Professional Netball scene came
this week with the announcement that England Netball and Netball Superleague (NSL) stars
London Pulse – who are based at Copper Box Arena (CBA) - will be one of eight clubs
participating in the relaunched League from 2025.
GLL
Address:
Middlegate House,
The Royal Arsenal,
London,
SE18 6SX,
UK
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Peter Bundey, chief executive
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Key personnel
Peter Bundey, chief executive
Key customers
Companies we work with include Annodata, Physical Company, Technogym, Change Please and Divine Chocolate.
Local Authorities and Agencies we work with include Greenwich Council, Belfast City Council, Cardiff City Council, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, LLDC, ukactive, SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, Swim England and Sport England.
Local Authorities and Agencies we work with include Greenwich Council, Belfast City Council, Cardiff City Council, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, LLDC, ukactive, SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, Swim England and Sport England.
Plans for the next 12 months
Our 2025 strategies and roadmap are already well-shaped and are based on our Five-Year Plan, which was launched last year.
With our positive performance and improved social outcomes during 2024, GLL is well placed to be at the forefront of societal, economic and environmental change.
The future will see us focusing on excellent customer service alongside our social enterprise values and growing our social impact, while effective partnerships with national health and wellbeing agencies will support individual lifestyle and wellness outcomes.
We’re delighted to see strong data indicators that show engagement with a diversity of age, demography and levels of activity across our facilities.
To foster community strength, health and mental wellbeing, we’ll balance the provision of health, fitness, team sport and social activities across a 50/50 split of male/female users, backed by an enhanced digital customer focus.
With our positive performance and improved social outcomes during 2024, GLL is well placed to be at the forefront of societal, economic and environmental change.
The future will see us focusing on excellent customer service alongside our social enterprise values and growing our social impact, while effective partnerships with national health and wellbeing agencies will support individual lifestyle and wellness outcomes.
We’re delighted to see strong data indicators that show engagement with a diversity of age, demography and levels of activity across our facilities.
To foster community strength, health and mental wellbeing, we’ll balance the provision of health, fitness, team sport and social activities across a 50/50 split of male/female users, backed by an enhanced digital customer focus.
Testimonial
“We made the decision to begin supporting the GLL Sport Foundation in 2015, and it is a pleasure to announce the renewal of our sponsorship with this incredible institution.
"Many bright and talented athletes throughout the United Kingdom are unable to chase their dreams of sporting glory due to lack of funding. We are passionate about helping GSF give equal opportunities to all young people and achieving their dreams of competing on the international stage.
"Our partnership enables both our brands to share the success of the UK’s most aspiring athletes who we are proud to have heard speak in such an inspirational way at our internal Sales Conferences and who have supported our marketing and brand development goals through representation and storytelling both in person and via social media”.
– Rod Tonna-Barthet, chief executive, Annodata
"Many bright and talented athletes throughout the United Kingdom are unable to chase their dreams of sporting glory due to lack of funding. We are passionate about helping GSF give equal opportunities to all young people and achieving their dreams of competing on the international stage.
"Our partnership enables both our brands to share the success of the UK’s most aspiring athletes who we are proud to have heard speak in such an inspirational way at our internal Sales Conferences and who have supported our marketing and brand development goals through representation and storytelling both in person and via social media”.
– Rod Tonna-Barthet, chief executive, Annodata
Testimonial
"I am so thankful for the support I have received from GLL Sport Foundation. My first individual medal ever is extremely special, and I would not be here if it wasn’t for the support, I have received from the GLL ‘family’.”
– Daryll Neita, Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze and silver medalist, GLL Athlete
– Daryll Neita, Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze and silver medalist, GLL Athlete
Testimonial
"This exciting new chapter cements the future of our six key sports venues and is part of our commitment to the many communities we serve far and wide. We have carefully structured this partnership with GLL to ensure that visitors will continue to enjoy the very best in these stellar, highly popular venues. We look forward to together creating exciting new programmes and activities that draw on the strengths of both organisations.
“These venues are part of the Lee Valley visitor experience and will continue to be so with some of the best facilities and most inspiring settings to be found anywhere. As part of the partnership Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will continue to invest to ensure that they go from strength to strength, delivering real impact for communities.”
– Shaun Dawson chief executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
“These venues are part of the Lee Valley visitor experience and will continue to be so with some of the best facilities and most inspiring settings to be found anywhere. As part of the partnership Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will continue to invest to ensure that they go from strength to strength, delivering real impact for communities.”
– Shaun Dawson chief executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
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