The Next Chapter
United Way Regina is sharpening its focus on early literacy and putting reading at the centre of its work.
We believe every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader and thrive. This next chapter builds on nearly a decade of work with families, schools, community organizations, partners, donors, and volunteers across Regina.
Why reading matters
Reading opens the door to learning, confidence, opportunity and participation in community life.
Twenty-nine per cent of Grade 3 students in Regina are not yet reading at grade level, approximately 700 children each year.
Grade 3 is an important milestone because children are using reading more and more to learn. When reading is difficult, it can affect confidence and learning and those challenges can carry forward as children move through school and into adulthood.
Strong reading skills can help open doors throughout life, supporting continued learning, future opportunities and the ability to participate fully in work and community life.
Building on nearly a decade of early literacy work
For nearly a decade, United Way Regina has worked alongside Regina’s school divisions and other community partners to help more children build strong reading skills.
That work has included family literacy, school readiness, attendance, access to books, transportation, and summer learning. It has been made possible through the commitment of partners, donors, supporters, and volunteers who have invested time, resources and expertise in children and families across Regina.
Together, that work has supported children and families, strengthened partnerships, and helped United Way Regina learn more about what children need to become confident readers.
This next chapter builds on that experience and on the years of community support and investment that have helped bring the work to this point.
Where we’re going
By 2035, the long-term community goal is for all children in Regina to be reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3.
Reading opens the door to learning, confidence, opportunity and participation in community life, benefits that can extend well beyond the early years.
That is why United Way Regina’s focus starts well before Grade 3, helping children build strong reading skills early so they are ready to keep learning and growing.
United Way Regina’s role
No one organization can achieve this alone. Schools, families, governments, early learning providers, community organizations, and many others all play important roles.
United Way Regina’s role is to help bring people, partnerships, support, and resources together to help move this shared work forward.
What happens next
This next chapter will continue to take shape with the community. United Way Regina will keep working with partners to bring people, support, and resources together around the 2035 goal.
Not every detail is decided yet. United Way Regina will continue to share what comes next, what is being learned and how people can be part of this important work.
Learn more
Have questions about United Way Regina’s sharpened focus on early literacy?