School Library Association and Barrington Stoke launch new Reader of the Year Award in the National Year of Reading

Ahead of World Book Day, and to celebrate the National Year of Reading, the School Library Association (SLA) is launching a brand-new award in collaboration with one of the UK’s most innovative children’s publishers.

The Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will be the only national award to celebrate young readers, recognising pupils in Year 7 and 8 who have overcome challenge to discover the joy of reading. 

The winner will receive £400 worth of Barrington Stoke books for their school library, a £100 book token for themselves, and a digital subscription to First News for both home and school.

Nominations are now open for the award, which celebrates engagement, enjoyment and determination over academic attainment or reading fluency. Awarded by the SLA, the Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will also highlight the vital role school libraries and librarians play in getting the right books into the hands of the right pupils, helping every child develop their own positive relationship with reading.

Teachers, headteachers and school librarians from across the UK can nominate Year 7 and 8 pupils (S1 and S2 in Scotland). The closing date for nominations is Friday, 15th May, after which a prestigious judging panel will decide on a shortlist. 

The winner will be announced at the SLA’s Annual Awards Ceremony, taking place on 18th November 2026 in London.

Jane Walker, Sales & Marketing Director at Barrington Stoke, told That's Books and More: “At Barrington Stoke, young people are at the heart of everything we do, and we know that some of them face real challenges on the path to developing a love of reading. 

"We’re therefore thrilled to be working with the School Library Association, sponsoring an award to celebrate those readers, while also recognising the crucial role of the school librarians who support them on that journey.”

The judging panel will include SLA School Librarian of the Year 2025 – Julie Broadbent, author and SLA Patron Tom Palmer and Barrington Stoke author Catherine Johnson, as well as representatives from Barrington Stoke, the School Library Association and children’s newspaper First News, who will join the award as media partner.

Catherine Johnson said: “I am so excited to be a judge for the brand-new Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award! I firmly believe that school libraries and librarians are an integral part of any school community. And I am thrilled to help shine a light on those students – a vital part of those communities – who have found their way into books.”

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA, said: “Launching a brand-new award that celebrates young readers puts children and young people at the heart of our National Year of Reading activity. We are thrilled to be joining forces with Barrington Stoke,  their focus on making books accessible to every reader makes them the perfect partner for an award specifically recognising young people who have had to overcome challenge to discover the joy of reading. 

"The Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will celebrate the curiosity, empathy and imagination that all children and young people can unlock when they discover the joy of reading.

"With children’s reading for pleasure at an all-time low, and a mandatory Year 8 reading test soon to enter the curriculum, the need to celebrate children’s reading enjoyment has never been so important. We know that school libraries and school librarians help millions of children to develop more positive relationships with reading, and I can’t wait to hear about some of them.”

Nominations for the Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award can be made at: sla.org.uk/reader-of-the-year

https://collins.co.uk/pages/barrington-stoke

“Slough Is Not What You Think” — Town Launches Digital Hub to Power 2028 Culture Bid

A Digital Home for Slough’s Story, Creativity and Collective Voice.

Slough has today launched its official Town of Culture 2028 digital platform, designed to capture the town’s collective voice and showcase the full richness of its varied cultural life.

“This is Slough telling its story in its own words. It is time for the country to see the real Slough,” Vineet Vijh, the director of Viva Slough, the organisation responsible for creating and managing the digital platform told That's Books and More.

Hosted within The Slough Explorer at www.thesloughexplorer.org, the Town of Culture section is more than a campaign page. 

It's a vibrant, living cultural engine, consolidating the town’s creative energy, community voice and cultural activity into one powerful national showcase. 

It brings together residents’ ideas, stories, videos, photos, events and organisations in one accessible, living space.

The new platform has been designed as an interactive and evolving cultural ecosystem, featuring:

A Collective Story

Residents are invited to share what makes Slough special, from hidden gems and heritage to bold ideas for 2028. 

The website gathers public responses to the Town of Culture consultation questions, ensuring the bid is rooted in genuine community voice.

A Cultural Showcase

A curated gallery of videos and photographs highlights Slough’s vibrant present: dance performances, public art, food festivals, faith celebrations, digital innovation, youth creativity and grassroots initiatives.

The aim is simple: to show the country what Slough already knows: that culture here is alive, diverse and forward-thinking.

A Living “What’s On” Directory

The website consolidates arts and cultural listings across the town into a single, regularly updated directory. 

From exhibitions and theatre to sports, music, workshops and community gatherings, residents and visitors can now find everything happening in one place.

Directory of Artists & Organisations

A searchable database of local creatives, cultural organisations and community groups strengthens collaboration and visibility, thus making it easier to commission, connect and celebrate Slough’s talent.

Designed for Residents, Built for the Nation

The website has been designed to serve two audiences:

• Local residents, who want to feel connected and proud of their town

• National audiences, who are curious to discover a modern British town redefining itself through creativity

An early user of the platform, local resident Aniruddha Jamadar, shared: “I had no idea there was so much happening in Slough until I saw everything in one place. 

"It makes you realise how creative this town really is. It is practical, inspiring and genuinely useful.”

A Digital Front Door to a Changing Town

Slough’s bid positions the town as a modern British powerhouse, blending heritage with technology, grassroots creativity with global industries that power the UK economy.

Unlike a static campaign page, the Slough Town of Culture website will continue to evolve throughout the bid process and beyond. 

Slough residents are encouraged to submit photos, videos, ideas and event listings, ensuring the platform grows organically alongside the movement.

Slough is one of the youngest towns in the country, economically dynamic and culturally rich. Through this new digital home, it invites the rest of the United Kingdom to see the reality behind the headlines: a town powered by community, creativity and confidence.

Tarcila Broder, the designer of the platform, said, “The digital hub aims to consolidate information that is often scattered across social media and individual websites, making Slough’s cultural offer more visible both locally and nationally. It uses AI agents to search for and consolidate information, saving significant time on manual updates. It is indeed a platform built for the future”

Get Involved

Residents, artists and organisations can explore the site and contribute at:

www.thesloughexplorer.org

Follow and support the campaign using:

#Slough2028 #UKTownOfCulture2028

Bespoke Manchester Jeweller Lands Role in Award-Winning Experian TV Campaign After Daughter Gets Cast First

Didsbury-based bespoke jeweller Abdulla 'Bud' Mulki almost didn't send his self-tape. Six days later, he was on an international film set in Bulgaria. Then his daughter was asked to compose the music.

Abdulla 'Bud' Mulki, founder of independent bespoke jewellery studio Si Vis Amari, has appeared in Experian's major new "Better Your Story" TV campaign after an unlikely chain of events that began with his daughter landing a role first.

The campaign, created by BBH London and named Ad of the Day by The Drum and one of the Clio Awards' 5 Ads of the Week, reimagines the classic nursery rhyme "There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe."

It follows a family living in a worn-out Converse sneaker who improve their credit score with Experian and upgrade to a spacious cowboy boot.

Mulki's daughter Maissa, a talented composer, musician and actress, was originally cast as one of the children. Maissa is no stranger to major productions, having previously appeared in commercials for Very, Apple and Yamaha Music. 

A gifted musician, she was named Musician of the Year at Xaverian College and was double shortlisted for the BBC Young Composer of the Year award.

The production team then asked the families to send in photos of the dads. They liked the look of Mulki and requested an improv self-tape.

"I nearly didn't bother," says Mulki. "I'm a jeweller, not an actor, and I was busy with work. But I didn't want to spoil it for my daughter, so I sent one in. They loved it, and the next thing I knew I was on a plane to Bulgaria."

What followed was a six-day shoot on a purpose-built set that took months to construct, featuring two life-size shoe builds. 

The commercial was directed by award-winning director Tom Noakes through production company Business Club, with cinematography by James L Brown, who had recently wrapped a Netflix series in Colombia. Mulki was put up in five-star accommodation at the Hilton with all expenses paid.

During filming, Noakes asked Mulki "is this your first gig Bud?". When Mulki confirmed it was, the director told him he was a natural and should pursue more work. The production team nicknamed him "King Bud" and referred to him and Maissa as "the Dream Team" for their chemistry on set with cast and crew.

At the wrap party, Mulki spotted an opportunity to champion his daughter's composing talent and mentioned it to Noakes. The director asked to see her CV. A couple of weeks after post-production, Noakes messaged back saying he was impressed by how gifted she was for her age, and told Mulki to leave it with him.

Shortly after, BBH's production team called to ask Maissa to demo the music for the commercial. She was then contacted by Wake The Town, a music supervision company in London, and was briefed on the project. Maissa composed the music along with three alternate endings. Her work was shortlisted, but the production ultimately chose another composer's piece.

The experience didn't hold her back. Noakes later reached out to Maissa directly with a message that read: "I never got to debrief with you after the agency decided to move forward with another composer. I simply want to express how impressive your piece of music is, which is remarkable considering your age, but equally that nobody else knew that. It was in the running because it was impressive on its own merit. Well done."

Maissa is now preparing to study composition at Leeds Conservatoire next year under Tom Harold, a former winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year award and notable UK composer.

"The whole experience was surreal," says Mulki. "One minute I'm at my desk in Didsbury designing engagement rings, the next I'm on an international film set being directed by someone who has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. And then my daughter gets asked to compose the music. It all started because Maissa got the part first."

The commercial is now running across TV, cinema, VOD, out-of-home, radio, digital and social channels nationwide, with media handled by PHD.

Taking the director's advice to heart, Mulki has since been signed by Manchester talent agency The Drama Mob, whose roster includes Owen Cooper, the English actor who gained international recognition for his debut role as teenaged murder suspect Jamie Miller in the hit Netflix miniseries Adolescence (2025).

By day, Mulki continues to run Si Vis Amari from two studios in Manchester: a flagship in Didsbury Village and a second in the city centre. Originally Syrian and born in Edinburgh, he designs bespoke engagement and wedding rings using 3D sculpting software originally developed for the animation industry. Every ring is designed personally to tell a story and manufactured in the UK. Si Vis Amari is a member of the National Association of Jewellers and has created bespoke pieces for notable UK celebrities.

Valle Venia presents new song by LPS feat. Lara: Where will it take me

The song describes the challenge of trusting the flow, relying on oneself, following one's own values with confidence.

In a time when everything seems to begin to dissolve, when disorientation prevails more than ever and when one is searching for something to hold on to, certainty can be found in uncertainty.

Lara's authentic interpretation, with her multi-faceted voice, conveys confidence in finding a way for oneself and others.

In the faceless, noisy crowd, where glances are not returned and touches are not felt, one is pulled away by an invisible hand.

You are on your own, but somewhere there is a light and a hope that guides you when the fog lifts and you find yourself in the certainty of meeting someone who “can read my mind and my soul.”

Invisibly connected, across time and space, this path is open.

Multilink: https://valevenia.lnk.to/wherewillittakeme

Youtube: https://youtu.be/0MVTgXO2E_M

Website: www.valle-venia.com

World Poetry Day: Why Words Still Matter

Every year on 21 March, readers, writers and dreamers mark World Poetry Day,a global celebration of rhythm, language and the power of a well-placed line. 

Established by UNESCO in 1999, the day recognises poetry as one of humanity’s most treasured forms of expression.

In a world of scrolling feeds and short attention spans, poetry remains quietly radical. It slows us down. It asks us to notice. And sometimes, it says in ten lines what an essay cannot manage in a thousand words.

A Tradition That Endures

From the Romantic landscapes of William Wordsworth to the powerful civil rights verse of Maya Angelou, poetry has always reflected the spirit of its age.

In Ireland, Seamus Heaney captured rural life with extraordinary clarity, while across the Atlantic Emily Dickinson reshaped the possibilities of form and voice.

Yet poetry is not confined to literary giants. It lives in spoken word nights in local cafés, in classroom anthologies, in lyrics that blur the line between song and sonnet, and in personal notebooks filled with half-finished thoughts.

Why World Poetry Day Still Matters

World Poetry Day is not simply about revisiting the classics. It is about:

Encouraging the reading, writing and teaching of poetry

Supporting small publishers and independent presses

Promoting linguistic diversity

Giving voice to communities often unheard

Poetry thrives in every language. From Welsh cynghanedd to contemporary slam, from haiku to free verse, the form adapts while its purpose remains the same: to express something true.

Poetry and Well-Being

There is also something deeply restorative about poetry. Reading a poem can feel like a moment of stillness in a noisy world. Writing one can help untangle emotions that prose struggles to hold.

Short forms, in particular, are accessible. A haiku written on a walk. A reflective sonnet inspired by a change in season. Even a few carefully chosen lines scribbled in the margins of a diary can offer clarity.

In an age that often prioritises productivity, poetry gently reminds us that reflection is valuable too.

Simple Ways to Celebrate

World Poetry Day does not require grand gestures. You might:

Revisit a favourite poem from school

Share a short verse on social media

Attend a local reading or open-mic night

Support an independent bookshop or small press

Write a poem about something ordinary, the weather, your commute, your morning tea

Poetry begins with attention. And attention is something we can all practise.

Poetry has survived centuries of social upheaval, technological change and shifting tastes. It endures because it speaks to something essential – our need to feel understood and to understand others.

On World Poetry Day, perhaps the simplest celebration is this: pause, read a poem slowly, and let the words do their quiet work.

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/poetry

Celebrating World Book Day: Stories That Shape Us

There are few things more powerful than a good book. It can transport us across centuries, introduce us to unforgettable characters, and help us see the world, and ourselves, in a completely new way. 

World Book Day is a joyful reminder of exactly that.

In the UK, World Book Day is celebrated each March with a clear mission: to encourage children and young people to discover the pleasure of reading. 

Schools fill with witches, wizards, superheroes and storybook animals, while book tokens make it easier for families to add something new to their shelves.

But beyond the costumes and classroom celebrations lies something deeper: the idea that reading is not a chore, but a lifelong gift.

Why World Book Day Still Matters

In a world of short-form video and constant scrolling, carving out time to read can feel increasingly rare. Yet research consistently shows that reading for pleasure improves vocabulary, concentration, empathy and mental wellbeing.

Books allow us to:

Step into lives wildly different from our own

Understand complex emotions in safe, reflective ways

Strengthen focus in an age of distraction

Relax and reduce stress

For children especially, owning a book can be transformative. That’s why the World Book Day £1 token scheme is such a simple but powerful idea – it removes barriers and puts stories directly into young hands.

It’s Not Just for Children

Although schools are at the heart of the celebration, grown-ups shouldn’t sit this one out.

World Book Day is the perfect excuse to:

Revisit a childhood favourite

Finally start that novel gathering dust on your bedside table

Explore a new genre

Support a local independent bookshop

There’s something rather satisfying about walking into a bookshop on World Book Day and seeing tables stacked high with carefully curated titles. Whether you lean towards crime thrillers, historical fiction, memoir, or poetry, there’s always something waiting to surprise you.

Supporting Independent Bookshops

One of the best ways to mark the occasion is by visiting an independent bookseller. These shops are more than retail spaces – they’re cultural hubs, run by passionate readers who genuinely love matching people with the right book.

Independent bookshops:

Champion local authors

Host readings and community events

Offer thoughtful recommendations

Keep high streets interesting and diverse

In an era of convenience shopping, choosing to buy locally keeps literary culture alive in our towns and cities.

Creating Your Own World Book Day Tradition

Why not turn it into an annual ritual?

You might:

Gift a book instead of a card for birthdays around this time of year

Host a family reading night

Swap books with friends

Start a themed reading challenge

Even something simple,a quiet cup of tea and twenty uninterrupted minutes with a novel, can feel like a small act of rebellion against the noise of modern life.

The Bigger Picture

At its heart, World Book Day isn’t really about costumes or discounts. It’s about access, imagination, and opportunity. A single story can spark ambition, comfort a lonely child, or ignite a lifelong passion.

Books don’t just entertain us. They shape our thinking, expand our compassion, and sometimes even change the direction of our lives.

So whether you’re dressing up, browsing your local shelves, or simply rediscovering the joy of reading at home, take a moment to appreciate the quiet magic of the written word.

Because stories matter. And they always will.

https://www.worldbookday.com

https://literacytrust.org.uk/about-us/world-book-day-national-literacy-trust

Soloists announced for performance of Haydn's "The Creation"

Sheffield music lovers are being promised a spectacular summer evening as Sheffield Chamber Orchestra has announced the three soloists for its forthcoming performance of The Creation on 13 June 2026.

The landmark oratorio by Joseph Haydn will be conducted by John Lyon and performed in collaboration with Sheffield City Choristers, bringing together orchestra, chorus and a distinguished trio of guest soloists.

Taking the soprano role is Claire Lees, a Lancashire-born singer who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. 

An alumna of the prestigious Samling Artist Programme and winner of the Wil Keune Mozart Prize, she has appeared at leading venues including Wigmore Hall and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. A member of the Chorus of Opera North, she combines operatic flair with the clarity and poise required for Haydn’s luminous writing.

Joining her is Hartlepool-born tenor Tom Smith, who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music. Smith has performed with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and has worked with internationally renowned conductors. An experienced recitalist and oratorio singer, he brings both dramatic presence and lyrical warmth to the role.

Completing the trio is Derbyshire baritone Andrew Randall. A graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Randall has appeared with Opera North and The Grange Festival in a wide range of principal and cover roles. Alongside his performing career, he teaches singing at several schools and sings regularly at Sheffield Cathedral, giving him strong local ties.

Haydn’s The Creation remains one of the most celebrated choral-orchestral works ever written. First performed in 1798, it depicts the Biblical story of the world’s formation, from chaos and darkness to the radiant chorus “And there was light.” Its vivid orchestration, dramatic storytelling and joyful final choruses have ensured its place as a cornerstone of the repertoire.

Conductor John Lyon, well known to Sheffield audiences for his energetic and engaging approach, will lead the combined forces in what promises to be a highlight of the city’s summer cultural calendar.

Before that, the orchestra turns its attention to its next concert, Great Classical Masterpieces, on 21 March 2026. The programme features Egmont Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Concerto No. 1 by Max Bruch performed by Sheffield-born rising star Esme Greenwood, and Symphony No. 2 by Johannes Brahms — a programme of orchestral favourites that showcases the ensemble at full strength.

Further details and ticket information for both concerts are available via the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra website www.SCOrchestra.uk