Member News: TACT Launch National Year of Reading With Celebrated Author

TACT Fostering have kicked off a year-long programme of reading activities and engagement for young people, with a dedicated session from children’s author and illustrator, Nick Sharratt.

The celebrated illustrator for Jacqueline Wilson, and author in his own right for books such as Shark in the Park, lead an online draw-along for TACT’s young people on 18th February – which was both fun and inspirational. He took the participants through how to create texture and depth, and how to draw facial features with expressions. Throughout the session he told stories about some of the characters he’d created and how his childhood inspired his drawings.

A TACT foster carer, who joined the online session, noticed a positive change in a young person in their care: “He has loved learning to draw – and sessions like this have been incredible for his development and his confidence. He now loves drawing and is now proud of all his work.”

The session forms part of a wider programme of events and activities that have been devised and planned by TACT’s dedicated Education Service, to coincide with the National Year of Reading campaign.

Tina Bull, one of TACT’s Education Advisory Teachers, said: “Sessions like this, particularly when we can call on established writers and illustrators, are wonderfully inspiring for our young people. This is a fantastic start to our National Year of Reading programme of events, and we would like to thank Nick wholeheartedly for his time, thoughtfulness and energy!

“Throughout our sessions, if we can inspire just one of our young people to read more regularly or more widely, the work and planning for our year-long calendar of activities will have been worth it.”

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