YOUNG people in Worcestershire are being invited to volunteer their time and help encourage school children to enjoy reading during their summer holidays.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national initiative organised by The Reading Agency and aims to inspire children aged four to 12 years old to read six or more books during the holidays.

Worcestershire Libraries and Learning Service wants anyone aged 12 to 24 to help with the initiative which is launched on Saturday June 25. Volunteers are needed from this Saturday to September 24 to help out at events and in local libraries across the county.

Volunteers have the opportunity to build their confidence, meet new friends, make a positive contribution to their community and gain valuable work experience as well as having a lot of fun.

The libraries and learning service says anyone volunteering will need to be able to provide a minimum of five hours of their time over the summer.

Volunteers can get involved in a number of different ways as the roles available include general volunteering, book specialist, promoter and event planner.

People who volunteered in previous years said it was a brilliant experience getting involved with the Summer Reading Challenge helping to boost their confidence, getting an insight into the work environment and meeting lots of different people.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for Localism and Communities, said: “Volunteering for The Summer Reading Challenge is such a valuable experience. Last year we had 158 volunteers aged between 12 and 24 years and received lots of positive feedback about the experience. I would certainly urge all young people to get involved."

To find out more information about volunteering for the Summer Reading Challenge visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/librariesandlearning or contact Natalie McVey on 07876 144905.

This year’s challenge sees a special launch event to the National Trust’s Croome Court near Pershore on Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

Here children can meet guest author Yorkshire-born Tom Palmer, who wasn’t keen on reading as a child but was keen on football. His mum, worried because he didn’t do well at school, encouraged him to read about football in the papers, magazines and books.

Other activities at Croome Court include storytelling, theatre performances from Croome Encounters and Unfold Dance Theatre Company, interactive Roald Dahl workshops and performances by Worcestershire Young Voices.

The theme for this year’s Reading Challenge is celebrating the birth of one of the world’s greatest storytellers Roald Dahl.

Cllr Hodgson added: “These joint events are hugely successful – encouraging children to sign up in the first instance and then really giving them the motivation to complete the challenge.”

Two more fun filled Reading Challenge events are being held at Croome during the summer. On Wednesday July 27 Cheshire-born children’s author Alan Gibbons will be there and on Wednesday August 24 children’s author Jonathan Emmett, from Leicester, will be at the court.

Family entry to National Trust Croome is free on the reading challenge days as long as people are library members and taking part in the reading challenge.