Sorrento Writers Festival Literacy Fund

The Sorrento Writers Festival Literacy Fund (SWFLF) wants to help change lives and empower people through literacy.

We believe all Australians deserve opportunities to develop their reading and writing skills. Access to books is a necessity, not a privilege. And everyone – regardless of background or location – is entitled to gain confidence through storytelling.

Literacy sparks curiosity and creativity. It encourages further learning about the world around us. And it creates connections between people.

The SWFLF mirrors the Festival’s core mission – to bring writers and readers together – and applies it to children in particular.

The SWFLF exists to build literacy skills among the Mornington Peninsula community, and especially children. Each year the Fund will allocate money toward Mornington Peninsula projects that meet our criteria and support our mission.

These projects include:

Providing local and school libraries with books and educational resources that support reading and writing

Assisting local literacy programs

Encouraging Supporting literacy teaching programs skills and new techniques professional development among teachers

Linking reading mentors and book advocates with school programs such as book clubs, writing groups, assisted reading classes etc

Bringing authors, illustrators and storytellers to the Mornington Peninsula for talks and workshops that might, in turn, seek to spark creativity and ideas

Working with local musicians, artists and performers to create storytelling opportunities and workshops for children ie theatre programs, performance, writing groups, videography etc

Encouraging greater interaction with books so literacy skills are enhanced and learning becomes a passion