HATRIQA teams up with Oxfordshire FA to launch ground-breaking Football and Literacy partnership
HATRIQA has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Oxfordshire Football Association to help inspire children across Oxfordshire to develop their reading and writing skills through football.
The collaboration brings HATRIQA's Soccer Reader Method™ to the region, combining football with literacy development in an innovative approach designed to engage young people.
This partnership aligns with both organizations' commitment to finding creative ways for children to have fun while building self-confidence and essential life skills.
HATRIQA’s Soccer Reader Method is an innovative literacy and English language learning program developed in collaboration with UCL's Institute of Education, built around Sunday Times best-selling author Dan Freedman's internationally acclaimed Jamie Johnson series. These books have sold over a million copies, been made into a successful BBC TV series, helped countless young people discover their love for reading through football and Jamie Johnson was an inspirational figure for Jude Bellingham on his journey to become a professional footballer.
Dan’s personal journey demonstrates the transformative power of combining football and reading. He was a self-confessed reluctant reader growing up but went on to become a football journalist who travelled to two World Cups as a part of the official England Team. This experience of working and living with some of the best players in the world inspired him to start writing the Jamie Johnson books. Jamie Johnson is also the UK most-downloaded children’s TV drama on BBC iPlayer and as a Premier League Primary Stars Ambassador Dan has given inspirational talks to over 500,000 children at more than 2,000 schools.
Jonathan Duckworth, Chief Executive Officer of Oxfordshire FA, said “Oxford being a worldwide centre of education we are especially proud to play our part in that providing support for this initiative through football throughout Oxfordshire.”
Dan Freedman added "What makes this partnership with Oxfordshire FA so exciting is how it combines the community reach of grassroots football with an innovative approach to literacy, I've seen firsthand in thousands of school visits how football stories can be the key that unlocks reading for young people."
Tim Gentles, Head of Publishing at HATRIQA, shares his personal connection to the initiative: "Having experienced playing for Crowmarsh Boys (now Wallingford and Crowmarsh FC) while growing up, I know firsthand the positive impact Oxfordshire FA has on young people's lives. Being able to bring the Soccer Reader Method back to my home county and work with OXFA to inspire the next generation of readers and players is a fantastic opportunity."
Teachers, coaches and parents can register for more information through our exclusive Oxfordshire Football Association link: www.hatriqa.com/oxfa
HATRIQA’s Soccer Reader Method® Materials