Photo by Jason at Redpix for De Montfort University

Collaboration is key to the success of the Six Book Challenge and we've seen plenty of this in action as libraries, colleges, prisons and workplaces around the country launch this year's scheme. Our partners in Southend, Liverpool and Leicester are among the organisations who've kicked off the Challenge in style this week.

Poetry performance in Leicester

Photo by Jason at Redpix for De Montfort University

Andrew Jennison, from the postage and porterage department at De Montfort University (DMU), masterminded a spectacular show of support by enlisting his colleagues plus people from a range of local organisations to perform a mass public reading of the poem 'Until You Try' by performance poet Tony Walsh. The poem concludes with the lines "Try Passion, Try Living, Try Reading", and sums up perfectly the ethos of the Six Book Challenge.

Andrew has already encouraged hundreds of staff to take up the Six Book Challenge over the years in his role as a trade union learning rep for UNISON. His efforts have seen DMU named the top workplace in the UK for people completing the Challenge and in 2014 Andrew was awarded a British Empire Medal for his commitment to transforming people's lives through reading.

Andrew said: "We're very proud of the Six Book Challenge awards we've won, but the main idea behind today's event is to encourage people to start reading and enjoy reading."

The One Voice Leicester reading also involved Nicola Valentine, an award-winning author who lectures in creative writing at DMU, and Stephen Done, author and curator of Liverpool Football Museum. Other organisations who took part included East Midlands Ambulance Service, Leicester City Council, staff and students from Leicester College, Regent College and South Leicestershire College and DMU's Square Mile community initiative. Andrew's enthusiasm has now inspired 26 UNISON branches in the East Midlands to take part in the Six Book Challenge.

"It's changed the lives of some of our colleagues"

Image shows Andrew Jennison (centre). Photo by Jason at Redpix for De Montfort University

David Wilson, DMU deputy vice-chancellor said: "With the Six Book Challenge, everyone's a winner. Getting into reading and writing has changed the lives of some of our colleagues, both at work and st home, and we are immensely proud of that."

"Reading is really important. It helps you understand things," said Tomas who helped perform 'Until You Try' and is taking part in the Six Book Challenge at Regent College.

"It's brilliant that Andrew's enthusiasm is now bringing together other organisations running the Six Book Challenge in Leicester. It's exactly how we want the programme to spread and to transform more lives through reading," said Genevieve Clarke, who leads the Six Book Challenge.

Footballers and NHS staff to take part in Southend

Players from Southend United and staff from Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are among several groups who will be taking part in the Six Book Challenge for the first time in 2015 with support from Southend Libraries.

This year's scheme was launched at The Forum with regular Six Book Challenge Champion, jazz cornettist Digby Fairweather, Chris Walker, Mayor of Southend-on-Sea and representatives from Quick Reads in attendance to cut a special cake. Simon Wallace, Communities and Social Inclusion Manager, will be encouraging new and existing partner organisations such as Southend Adult Community College to get as many people completing the Challenge as possible this year.

Merseytravel goes for gold

Leading Liverpool employer Merseytravel is aiming to win gold for the number of staff who complete the Six Book Challenge this year having already run the scheme in partnership with UNISON since it started in 2008. In previous years it has won bronze and silver Six Book Challenge awards for getting 50+ and 100+ employees completing the Challenge, but is now aiming for gold by getting 150 to do the same.

Guest of honour at the launch was Liverpool City Councillor Lana Orr, mayoral lead for reading and the council's City Of Readers initiative. She said: "This is the beginning of a long term plan to ensure Liverpool is the foremost city of readers in the UK." Local MP Angela Eagle is also taking part in the Six Book Challenge.

Liz Chandler, director of corporate development for Merseytravel said: "We are going to be loud and proud about our reading." And Julie Mooney, project worker and tutor at Merseylearn, added: "The best thing about the Six Book Challenge has been the enthusiasm it generates each year. It's created a learning community in our workplace."

Get involved

Read stories from people who've completed the Six Book Challenge.

Read more about running the Six Book Challenge at your library, college, prison or workplace and get in touch if you'd like further information.

Materials for the Six Book Challenge 2015 can now be ordered from our online Shop.