Davis James meets the sponsored cycle ride to lend his support.

Ride out, Read on!

Former Reading Champion Matt Hill with RIF supporters

RTG initiatives

Penguin Book Giveaway - September 2008

Bristol City FC along with Norwich City FC became the first club to take part in the Penguin Book Giveaway. The books were given away at home matches for Norwich City FC (vs Doncaster Rovers)



Non-RTG literacy activity

Bristol City's study support centre was one of the first 10 football clubs to receive a grant from Reading The Game to run a RIF project.

Ride out, Read on!
For their RIF project 06-07, Bristol City FC Study Support Centre set themselves the challenge of raising the funding themselves. To do this, dedicated reading and Bristol FC fan Russell Tanner (Study Support Centre Assistant Manager) cycled from Bristol City's ground, Ashton Gate, to Land's End. Russell was joined by 3 other team members for the ride on Sunday 8 April and Monday 9 April.

David James lent his support by meeting the team at Exeter City football ground.

Although the ride has been completed, if you would like to sponsor him, you can still visit http://www.justgiving.com/rideoutreadon.

In its first year BCFC worked with five primaries in the Knowle West area, which is one of the five poorest wards in the country. As part of their RIF project, 60 nine to ten year-olds received three free books each at distributions held during their Playing for Success courses. These children were identified by local police because they were at risk of and were offending. Meanwhile, Football in the Community provided the group with two nights of football coaching, with much emphasis on citizenship as well as how to become a great footballer! Police have found reductions in crime as a result of these sessions.

For their second year of RIF, BCFC received a grant from Barclays via RIF to provide a further 180 books for a new cohort of 60 children. For the 2004/2005 season, BCFC has received a grant from GWR which will allow them to provide free books for 130 children throughout the year.

Part of the Study Support Centre has been converted into a special Reading Corner, and Centre Managers Mandy and Russell have put an actual Ashton Gate goal net on the wall which has trapped player's favourite reads to inspire the children.

Bristol City has continued to run a RIF project every year, with great success.

Reading Champions: Steve Brooker (pdf)