About.

Maidenhead’s Big Read is planned as a new annual event that aims to engage and unite local people of all ages and backgrounds with reading, with a particular focus on those children and adults who are currently missing out on all that a love of books can provide.  

What's it all About?

Big Read Stop: incorporating the Festival bookshop, book swap area, reading groups and display areas.  A place to relax, unwind and curl up with a book, magazine or comic, a place to let your imagination run wild! 

​Big Read Inspiration Theatre: Bringing bestselling authors, sporting heroes, prominent politicians, influential journalists and stars of the screen to share their stories and lives with the public.
 
Inspiring young readers: Our local school’s programme and family events include large and small village school events, character costume days and storytelling events.

Our Objectives

• To inspire, enthuse and entertain people of all ages through literature and the arts.
• To encourage adults and children from all backgrounds to read books, own books and visit their local library
• To bring people of all ages and backgrounds together, enabling people to get to know each other, understand each other more and participate in a range of community wide events
• Promote World Book Day

Our Goals

Maidenhead’s Big Read, organised by Maidenhead Community Book Festival, will help to improve the attainment of children in our schools, bring families and neighbours together to share books, stories and activities, and will increase reading and associated wellbeing in our community. 
 
Local people recognise that Maidenhead's Big Read is important because in our primary schools some children are falling behind or failing to develop a love of reading that can sustain them into adult life.  Encouraging their parents to read would bring families closer together.
 
Developing a love of reading is important because a growing number of studies show that promoting reading can have a major impact on children and adult’s wellbeing and future attainment.  Evidence from OECD (2002) found that reading enjoyment is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status; and that reading for pleasure could be one important way to help combat social exclusion and raise educational standards.  Maidenhead’s Big Read hopes to address this issue and inspire those who are currently missing out.
 
Maidenhead’s Big Read is organised by Maidenhead Community Book Festival and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, governed by non-executive Board Members. The Committee is made up of a group of dedicated, hardworking volunteers who collectively put in hundreds of hours to deliver continually evolving and successful reading development projects.

Our Team

Stephan Stephan
Chairman

Helal Stephan, known to many as Stephan Stephan, is a retired Civil Engineer and Project Manager. Twice Past President and a member of Maidenhead Thames Rotary Club, he promotes educational events & Rotary led RBWM Primary Schools competitions.  He also coordinates with local Primary Schools in Maidenhead for Readers who visit schools weekly to encourage children to practise reading.
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Stephan is passionate about children becoming fluent in reading and love of reading at a very early stage to favourably shape their future.

Yash Maudgil
Treasurer

I firmly believe that being able to read well is the foundation towards good education, allowing all children to achieve their full potential. I support Maidenhead's Big Read project as its aim is to introduce children to reading in an informal and entertaining environment and  to develop a love of reading in their own time.

I am a local qualified practising accountant, and have volunteered to be the Treasurer to ensure that the funds are appropriately expended to give value for money. I am also a member of Maidenhead Rotary Club.

Lisa Hunter
Vice Chairman & Marketing Director

Reading is one of the best ways to escape from reality and let your imagination run wild.  It opens up a world of opportunity for children and adults alike and is the reason why I'm so passionate about supporting this project.  Instilling a love of reading is something we should all strive to achieve.

As well as being the Founder President of Maidenhead Bridge Rotary and the Chairman of Maidenhead Festival, I run my own Marketing and Events Consultancy.  I have volunteered to support Maidenhead's Big Read by managing all publicity activities and creating the overall branding.

Sarah Street
Volunteer Coordinator

As a child I was lucky to have someone who was always happy to read or tell me a story. This instilled my love of books and reading, and I passionately believe that every child and adult should be encouraged to read or tell stories in whatever forum they enjoy.

My career was in early years. I carried this passion into my work, always ensuring that children had access to stories and reading material enabling them to use their imaginations to carry themselves into places of fun and make believe. 
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Maidenhead Big Read encourages and promotes reading and I am proud to be involved, as well as being a member of Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club.

Lisa Poole
Secretary

I have worked in libraries for fifteen years and am passionate about inspiring people to read for pleasure.

Libraries are at the heart of the community and play an important role in bringing people together by providing free access to books, information and online services.  They offer young people the chance to develop a love of reading.
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I am very excited to be part of Maidenhead’s Big Read, and hope it will inspire people of all ages to pick up a book and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Clive Haines
Schools Liaison

Reading is very much the heart of the schools curriculum and evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.

Introducing writers, poet, illustrator or storyteller into children’s’ life’s is a great way to inspire children and bring reading to life.

As well as being a school Governor, I also work for Achieving for Children supporting schools within the Maidenhead area and I am delighted to be involved in Maidenhead's Big Read.