BRIGG PUPILS TO WORK WITH TV CHEF ON BIG DINNER

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council is launching its Children’s Literacy Trust at The Big Dinner being held at The Baths Hall on Sunday 9 October to inspire children and young people, and their parents.
The Children’s Literacy Trust aims to develop the literacy skills of children and young people, and their parents and raise awareness of the importance of literacy, building on the success of the Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton, who established the Imagination Library for children across the world, has praised North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust. 
She said: “The only thing more important than what we do for our children today is what we will do for them tomorrow. We are so fortunate to have the forward thinking folks at North Lincolnshire paving the way to teach us all how to best sustain our efforts for decades to come. I bet the Children’s Literacy Trust will be going strong 100 years from now so I am making my plans to celebrate that milestone!”
A board of trustees has been created with members from a range of areas to lead on the projects being delivered through the Children’s Literacy Trust, which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust's vision is ‘that all children and young people in North Lincolnshire reach their potential by becoming confident and enthusiastic readers and have the essential skills they need to grow up and lead successful lives.’
The Trust will play a key role in supporting and promoting a whole community approach to children’s literacy across North Lincolnshire. 
It will:

• Work with partners to create a culture of reading for children in North Lincolnshire.
• Promote and support new and established children’s literacy initiatives to inspire a generation of children to read, grow and succeed.
• Ensure that business and community voice is represented as part of a North Lincolnshire strategy to improve literacy.
• Campaign to promote the social and economic importance of reading, encouraging a shared responsibly across business, public and voluntary communities, to make a positive difference.

The Big Dinner is the first event of its kind in the region and will see students from three local schools design, cook and deliver a three-course menu working with well-known local chef, Colin McGurran to around 200 guests.
The event is being held to support local school pupils gain real work experience in the hospitality and events industry, while also raising money to support other children and young people in different ways within the local community.
Pupils from The St Lawrence Academy, Frederick Gough School and The Vale Academy, Brigg, are all taking part in the event which will see them working alongside The Baths Hall’s food and service staff and Colin and his team at Winteringham Fields.
Having been supplied a brief by Colin, the pupils have produced a logo for the event, put together a menu using local produce and, using classic techniques to create inventive dishes, will prepare and serve their food on the night. The students have planned all aspects of the event with support from their school, Winteringham Fields, the council and The Baths Hall.
All young people taking part will receive a certificate and a signed copy of Colin’s latest book, A Table at the Fields. There will also be work experience opportunities available to those interested in progressing in the hospitality industry.
Fundraising with monies raised from the event will go to When You Wish Upon A Star and the North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust.  
The Big Dinner forms part of the Festival of Skills and Opportunities (FOSO) taking place in October. FOSO is a month-long series of free events, organised by North Lincolnshire Council and partners, to provide access to information, advice and guidance on skills, training, jobs and career pathways. To find out more information, visit www.northlincs.gov.uk/foso

Henderson Insurance Brokers Ltd is supporting The Big Dinner.
Coun David Rose, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Learning, said: “The Big Dinner is a great opportunity for young people to get experience in the hospitality and events industry. The event promotes aspirations of young people and encourages them to reach for their dreams.
“These pupils have been working with Colin McGurran to plan the whole event; they have had an input in every aspect from designing the menu to creating the meals. It is a unique opportunity that doesn’t come around every day, so I would encourage them to get all they can out of this opportunity.
“I am delighted that we are able to launch the North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust at The Big Dinner event. The Children’s Literacy Trust aims to build on the achievements of the Imagination Library and inspire children and young people, as well as their parents. It is a fantastic project that will provide a range of opportunities to develop literacy skills and maximise learning prospects.”
The board of trustees for North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust are:
Sandra Simmons, Principal Officer, Early Years and Professional Standards at North Lincolnshire Council
Coun David Rose, cabinet member for Children Families and Learning at North Lincolnshire Council
Richard Mason, Brigg, Partner at Mason Baggott and Garton Solicitors
Colin Brabazon, Library and Information Services Manager at North Lincolnshire Council
Sue Hollingworth, Scunthorpe Rotary Club
Sarah Spencer, Head Teacher at Brigg Primary School
Hannah Dale, owner of Wrendale Designs, Brigg, author and illustrator
Further trustees and their roles and responsibilities will be confirmed at a later date.
The North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust will work alongside the Imagination Library - dedicated to raising literacy levels for children in North Lincolnshire. The Trust will work to improve the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in communities.
Since the Imagination Library launched in North Lincolnshire in February 2013, 12,449 children have registered, which is 88 per cent of children under five. Of those, 4,209 have graduated from the scheme. A total of 255,487 books have been gifted to children across North Lincolnshire.
North Lincolnshire is gaining a national and international reputation for promoting the importance of early literacy and communication in raising aspirations and life chances of children, young people and families.
The proportion of children achieving a good level of development at age five increased 17 percentage points between 2013 and 2015 to 70 per cent overall. 
The UK Dollywood Forum has recognised North Lincolnshire as a model of exemplary practice, describing the local delivery as the ‘most innovative UK programme’. North Lincolnshire has the highest proportion of eligible children enrolled when compared at both national and international levels.