Sheffield launched its National Year of Reading on Monday 28th April at the Oasis, Meadowhall with support from Sheffield United Football Club.

The event was compered by Trish Cooper of Radio Sheffield. The Big Screen in the Oasis showed a specially commissioned film to promote reading, whether it was a book, a computer screen, magazine or comic! The film featured local personalities and places and included footage shot at Bramall Lane.

More than 150 children from five different Sheffield schools attended the event. Guests included the Barnsley Bard, Ian McMillan, and musician Luke Carver Goss who, with the help of the children, composed a poem to be used throughout the year to promote the pleasure of reading.

Former Blades players Mark Todd and Adrian Littlejohn from SUFC's United Intitiative were also at the event discussing their reading experiences. Both of them shared the importance of being able to read and emphasized how much fun it can be.

Also in attendance was the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councillor Arthur Dunworth who gave thanks to the event organisers and to those involved on the day.

The school children each returned to their school with a goody bag, which of course included a book!