Case Studies
Read for the Future
Read for the Future
A pilot project devised by ScottishPower and Friends of the Earth Scotland proved so successful it has been launched on a national scale.
The "Read for the Future" campaign challenges primary seven pupils throughout Scotland to raise sponsorship by switching off their televisions and electronic gadgets and reading as many books as possible over eight weeks.
The aim of the initiative is to encourage children to become more energy efficient and to improve literacy standards, while raising money for Friends of the Earth Scotland's Greener Homes campaign, which helps people to make their homes more environmentally friendly.
All schools that took part in the challenge were given an information pack on climate change. The prize for the winning school was a £500 Solar Science Cube (S-Cube) containing renewable energy systems and there was a £50 book token for the individual pupil who read the most books. Competition was intense as more than 700 pupils took part, helping to raise almost £2,000.
The winning school was Clepington Primary in Dundee , where pupils managed to raise £370 for Friends of the Earth Scotland's Greener Homes project. The project campaigns and supports practical action by individuals to protect the environment, and provides free advice to householders across Scotland on energy saving, waste reduction and greener travel.
Claire Smyth, primary seven teacher at Clepington Primary said: "The class was really excited about taking part in Read for the Future.
"It's a great way of getting them thinking about the environment whilst improving literacy levels. The kids are delighted to have won this challenge and are looking forward to getting to grips with the S-Cube."
The individual prize went to Rebekah MacMillan, from Auchinairn Primary School in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire , who managed to tear her way through 50 books in one week. Aged just 11, Rebekah reads at a rate that would make most adults blush. From the age of two, she has been a fluent reader out of sheer necessity - because she has needed to be the eyes of her blind mother Deborah.
Deborah said: "From the age of two, Rebekah learned her alphabet and numbers very quickly, and soon began helping around the house acting as my eyes."
This early start in reading has given her an insatiable appetite for books. Rebekah said: "I love helping mum, and I love reading. I like to read every day for at least a few hours. At birthdays and Christmas it's easy to buy a present for me, I just want more books".
Alison McKean, Head of Environment within Energy Retail said: "We hear so much these days about poor literacy standards, but Read for the Future has shown that youngsters are very enthusiastic about reading. The project has been an excellent way of combining learning with raising awareness of energy efficiency among the energy customers of the future."
