{"id":47177,"date":"2018-12-14T11:54:19","date_gmt":"2018-12-14T11:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=47177"},"modified":"2018-12-14T11:54:19","modified_gmt":"2018-12-14T11:54:19","slug":"inpoverty-children-without-books-could-be-hit-hardest-by-gap-in-council-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2018\/12\/14\/inpoverty-children-without-books-could-be-hit-hardest-by-gap-in-council-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"#InPoverty: Children without books could be hit hardest by gap in council budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cardiff council has a \u00a335 million gap in its budget – what will this mean for libraries and communities who use them?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Browsing the shelves, selecting a new book covered in sticky plastic covering, and settling down onto the scratchy carpet to get stuck into a new world. That might not be everyone\u2019s memory of going to the library, but for some people it\u2019s a sanctuary that offers more than just a world of imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Libraries are an essential service for families with tight budgets who cannot afford to buy books for their children. <\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2018, Cardiff council announced they needed to save more than \u00a335 million next year. To make the saving, the council may have to raise council tax or libraries could lose their funding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading is an essential part of children\u2019s literacy skills development, says a\u00a0report<\/a> by The Literacy Trust. These skills are important for school achievement and employability.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Literacy Trust is a charity that conducts research and creates campaigns to improve literacy levels among children and adults in the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

In December 2017, BBC News <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that only 75.9% of seven-year-old pupils on free school meals in Wales reached the foundation learning phase in by the end of the school year – missing the target of 80%.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report says consistently missing literacy targets make social mobility more difficult because it can lock people out of the job market. This can happen because applicants may not be able to communicate their skills and experience properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The joy of reading<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Literacy Trust\u2019s report said one in eight disadvantaged children don\u2019t own a book at home, and those on free school meals were among those most likely not to own a book. <\/span><\/p>\n

The report also found children who do own a book at home are 15 times more likely to read above the expected age level.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt promotes wellbeing, an enquiring mind, imagination, increases their vocabulary and lets them escape to a different world\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Books are often an unaffordable luxury for families living in poverty, according to a local mum of three.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Roath-based parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she would like to be able to buy books for her children but \u00a0her budget doesn\u2019t stretch that far.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe library is a place where I can get out and meet people as well as let my kids just enjoy reading anything they want,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Libraries are often the only place where families who are unable to afford books can read for pleasure.<\/span><\/p>\n

A report<\/a> by Ofsted said reading for pleasure is a more important factor in positive life achievements than a child\u2019s parent\u2019s education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helen Jeffreys, a primary school teacher in Magor, says reading for pleasure is a crucial part of developing a child\u2019s literacy skills both in and out of school. \u201cIt promotes wellbeing, an enquiring mind, imagination, increases their vocabulary and lets them escape to a different world,\u201d says Helen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Losing our libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cuts aren\u2019t just affecting public libraries, they\u2019re squeezing school libraries too. <\/span><\/p>\n

A report<\/a> by the Impact of School Libraries on Learning said libraries in schools had a positive effect on achievement in all subjects.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report said school libraries can help bridge the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged classmates. Funding cuts to school libraries mean schools are having to rely on the already stretched public libraries to pick up the slack. <\/span><\/p>\n

Helen says: \u201cThere\u2019s not enough money to replace books and it\u2019s the first thing to go with tight budgets.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A spokesperson for Cardiff council says they are combating the issue of funding gaps by setting up community hubs. The hubs combine housing, benefits and work advice, ICT access and library services.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese changes will help protect services at a time when many other councils are having to close library buildings or operate services on a volunteer basis only,\u201d says the council.<\/span><\/p>\n

Community projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the face of budget cuts, some communities are taking matters into their own hands. In 2015, Rumney Library<\/a> faced closure due to reduced council funding. It was rescued by a team of determined locals who created the campaign group, CARL (Community Action for Rumney Library).<\/span><\/p>\n

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The building was bought by local butcher, Lee Evans, and the library now remains an important community asset. The is also Wales\u2019s first library of things. Local people can visit the library, called Benthyg, and borrow items such as lawnmowers, power tools and camping gear.<\/span><\/p>\n