Schools can open up a world of opportunity to pupils by developing a love of reading through Buster’s Book Club, is the message from former Beirut hostage Terry Waite CBE.

He said: "Nothing is more important than encouraging and supporting your child with their reading and so I would encourage schools to join Buster's Book Club. Reading with your child can bring enormous pleasure to both of you. It is a magical way to bring the family together."

Former special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury Mr Waite was kidnapped in 1987 while negotiating the release of four hostages and spent five years in captivity.

Charlotte Hayes of Buster’s Book Club said: “We are honoured to have the support of Mr Waite who has cited his love of literature and the way it stimulates the imagination as an important element in surviving his ordeal.”

She added: “We are passionate about child literacy and hope to welcome a record number of schools to Buster’s Book Club this term. There is a packed schedule of competitions to look forward to including the chance to win story time sessions with Mister Maker himself Phil Gallagher, children’s author Nick Butterworth, rugby legend Catherine Spencer, and more!”

Each year the scheme continues to grow and last academic year participating schools collectively achieved a record seven and a half million minutes of reading at home.

The initiative helps to improve child literacy by encouraging children and families to spend more time reading for pleasure at home. Each child is given a home reading target of a set number of minutes and then takes part in a series of challenges – including inter-class and inter-school - to enthuse them to meet or exceed their target.

Buster’s Book Club is supported by Orbit, Golding Vision, Kent Libraries, Leeds Castle, Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kent Reliance, Whitefriars, Specsavers, Eurostar, and Bel UK.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk

Click the video below to view Terry Waite talking about the KM Group’s Year of Reading Campaign which includes the home reading scheme Buster’s Book Club.