Readers & Writers' roots in the PEN Charter
Our charter declares that "literature knows no frontiers". It declares that "PEN stands for the principle of unhampered transmission of thought within each nation and between all nations; and members pledge themselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and community to which they belong as well as throughout the world whenever this is possible."
Where individuals do not have the ability, or the will, to read and write independently, freedom of expression founders and transmission of thought is restricted. The Readers & Writers programme uses writers and their books to help those who are disadvantaged through special needs, social exclusion or personal difficulties and who as a result are struggling with reading development or the attainment of literacy skills.
In the words of the programme's founders, Rachel Billington and Siobhan Dowd:
"In 1999, our executive committee voted unanimously to start up Readers & Writers. As well as bolstering the role of writers on the national and and international scene, we wanted to focus on the individual and the local community. Our country today may have, in relative terms, comparative freedom of expression; most of our writers can say (more or less) what they want. But there are still countless social divisions and disparities: we are a nation of the able and less able, of the powerful and the disempowered. The factors that determine on which side of the divide a given person falls are varied. We know that geographical location, ethnic background, gender and social class are some of the main issues that may affect one's placing in today's confusing and often difficult world.
"Education, literacy and books are, we believe, some of the chief tools that enable individuals to have more say over how they shape their lives. There is nothing so emboldening and rewarding as reading about others, whether fictional or real, who may be encountering, and perhaps surmounting, similar problems or inequities in their lives. The ability to read, and read adventurously, once gained is rarely lost. And we believe that books can come into our lives at any time - whether in childhood or adulthood - and still make a difference. It is never too late to discover books."