This year, the Summer Reading Challenge will help over 760,000 children enjoy reading throughout the summer holidays. Karen Lumley helped celebrate this major achievement when she attended a special House of Commons reception on 18 July 2010, along with other top politicians, authors and publishing industry figures.

Created and run by registered charity The Reading Agency with public libraries, The Summer Reading Challenge continues to grow year on year since its launch 12 years ago, with 97% of UK library authorities participating.  It firmly showcases the very best in modern library support for young readers, combining an incentivised challenge to children aged four to 12 years, support from expert staff and assistance from teenage volunteers.

Most importantly, it’s completely free to families, and works UK-wide to make the serious business of reading fun, social and inclusive: children can sign up at their local library. The Summer Reading Challenge has a proven impact on children’s literacy and enjoyment of reading and is vital in the development of important links between libraries and schools.

Each year the Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. They’re encouraged to sign up at their local library and read six or more books of their choice during the school holidays. There are collectible incentives and rewards such as stickers, plus a certificate or medal for every child who completes the Challenge. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has a circus theme and is called Circus Stars, with a programme of activities and an interactive website www.circus-stars.org.uk

Among the VIPs attending the House of Commons reception along with Karen Lumley were top author Michael Rosen (Patron of the Summer Reading Challenge), author and broadcaster Hardeep Singh  Kohli and Minister for Schools Nick Gibb.

Photo courtesy of Stonehouse Photographic.

Karen Lumley MP welcomes £2.815 Million of new funding for sustainable transport schemes in Worcestershire County. The “Choose How You Move 2” Redditch based project has met the fund’s key objectives of creating economic growth in the area and cutting carbon.

A total of £2.815m was awarded to transport schemes across the Worcestershire County area. This is the first allocation of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which is worth £560 million over the next four years.

Commenting, Karen Lumley MP said: ‘I welcome the news that over £2.8 million of new funding is being invested in sustainable transport in Worcestershire. This will help build a strong local economy while addressing the urgent challenge of climate change.’

Karen Lumley, Member of Parliament for Redditch, recently visited iForce’s fulfilment centre in Redditch, where the UK’s leading specialist outsourced logistics company fulfils the orders for John Lewis Direct’s online shopping customers.

Martin Fleming of iForce and Phil Courtney of John Lewis gave Karen Lumley insightful overviews of the operation and then, along with iForce Logistics Director, Mark Needham, conducted a tour of the centre. iForce has been providing efulfilment services to the hugely successful John Lewis Direct online retail operation since 2001. These operations were transferred to the 232,678 sq ft warehouse in Redditch at the end of 2007 to facilitate continued phenomenal growth for the online retailer.

After the tour Karen took the opportunity to meet with several iForce colleagues for an open ‘Question and Answer’ session, which covered a range of topics including pensions, the NHS, schools, further education and the economy. The visit was then rounded off when the local MP took the opportunity to get involved in iForce’s fulfilment process by packing a John Lewis order.

iForce is the UK’s leading specialist outsourced logistics operator offering end-to-end solutions to its clients’ business challenges. The company has become well known for the e-fulfilment and returns processing services that it provides for many leading high street names, such as John Lewis Direct.

Commenting on the visit iForce’s Mark Needham said: “It was a pleasure to show Karen round the site and we are grateful for the interest that she has shown in our operations and our colleagues. iForce is tremendously proud to be operating out of Redditch and a great many local people have become our colleagues, making a valuable contribution to the incredible success that John Lewis Direct is achieving in the online retail market.”

Karen said of the visit: “I really enjoyed visiting iForce and meeting their fantastic team to hear their thoughts on a variety of subjects. I had fun learning how to pack and dispatch goods but I’m not sure if I’m up to their high standards”.

Karen is pictured with iForce Staff Member Todd Regan. (www.iforcegroup.com)