On Saturday 12 September, Billingham Forum Ice Arena became the home of Tees Active’s “Coolest Go All In Event”, bringing together ice skating, literacy and family fun in a unique celebration of active lifestyles and reading. The event formed part of the National Year of Reading’s Go All In campaign and showcased how physical activity and reading can work hand in hand to support healthier, happier communities
Working in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and Stockton Libraries, Tees Active welcomed families attending Learn to Skate sessions and other visitors to take advantage of a range of opportunities designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading. Library staff were on hand throughout the morning to help families sign up for library membership, access free digital resources such as e-books and audiobooks, and learn more about the fantastic support available through Stockton Libraries.
The event was a fitting finale to Tees Active’s summer-long Go All In activities, which have encouraged people to discover that “Reading Can Happen Anywhere”. Throughout the campaign, Tees Active used its leisure venues to demonstrate that books and physical activity are the perfect combination, reaching almost 50,000 people through creative social media content promoting reading in sporting settings
One of the highlights of the day was the distribution of free books provided by the National Literacy Trust, giving children and young people the opportunity to take a story home and continue their reading journey beyond the ice rink. Books were made available, helping to ensure that every family could leave with something to inspire further reading.
Sarah Bird Regional Lead for the National Literacy Trust said “”It was fantastic to see so many families getting involved. Events like this show that reading doesn’t just happen in classrooms or libraries, it can be part of everyday activities too. By bringing books and skating together, we’ve helped families discover new ways to enjoy reading together.
The event also achieved a tangible impact for Stockton Libraries. Feedback following the event revealed that 21 adults and 20 children signed up for library membership during the session, with many families expressing plans to visit their local libraries regularly after their skating lessons. This immediate uptake demonstrated the value of taking literacy opportunities directly into community leisure settings and making them accessible to families where they already spend their time. Tees Active, Community Engagement Manager Allan McDermott highlighted the importance of partnerships in creating innovative opportunities for local families.
“Our aim has always been to show that reading and physical activity can go hand in hand. By bringing together skating, books and family time in one setting, we’ve been able to introduce new opportunities to families who may not otherwise have engaged with library services. The response from participants has been fantastic and demonstrates the power of partnership working.”
The success of the event would not have been possible without the support of colleagues from Stockton Libraries, the National Literacy Trust, Tees Active staff, skating coaches and the many families who embraced the opportunity. Together, they created an atmosphere that was welcoming, engaging and full of enthusiasm for both reading and being active.
As Tees Active continues to develop innovative programmes that improve health, wellbeing and literacy across Stockton-on-Tees, the Coolest Go All In Event stands as another example of how strong partnerships can deliver lasting community impact. With dozens of new library members signed up, books distributed, and families inspired, the event has helped ensure that the message of the Go All In campaign will continue for Billingham’s skaters
After all, at Tees Active, reading really can happen anywhere.
