Applicant and Parental Guidance

BCPD Trust in collaboration with Purbachal Book Club has launched this competition to promote book reading among young people aged between 6 to 18. The aim of this competition is to encourage young people into book reading and to help them improve their communication and presentation skills.

The funding was awarded by Luton Council’s Social Justice Unit, through BLCF, as part of the Luton Citizens’ Fund.

Contestants can read any book of their choice and make a short video between 1 to 3 minutes long summarising and presenting the book. The videos can be created using any mobile phone or digital camera device and our aim is to consider the quality of the presentation rather than the quality of the video production. Applicants are encouraged to use their creative talent to present their chosen book.

All competition entries must be submitted by 31st July 2023 midnight deadline. However, applicants are encouraged to enter early as this would result in more public views of their video entries and there are also early bird entry mystery prizes to be won. The judging panel can use most public viewed videos as an initial criterion to short list entries and they can also select videos as wild card entries.

Our panel of judges will be looking for creativity, interest, and their understanding of the book. Dr Nazia Khanum OBE DL from Purbachal Book Club has kindly agreed to be the Chair of the judging panel and will select a group of judges to review each entry.

Competition entry age groups

  • 6 – 10 years
  • 11 – 14 years
  • 15 – 18 years

 Prizes for each age group

  • 1st Prize Winner Trophy & £50 Voucher
  • 2nd Prize Winner Trophy & £25 Voucher
  • 3rd Prize Winner Trophy & £20 Voucher
  • Judges Special Prize Winner Trophy & £15 Voucher

Each short-listed video would be reviewed by our judging panel. Below judging criteria is not meant to be exhaustive but provides key skills and attributes being assessed and compared between entrants. You can view winning videos from our 2022 book reading competition to get some ideas.

  • Summary and Presentation
    • Summarising the book clearly, key highlights, what they liked or disliked and what they have learnt from the book and any other conclusion they have drawn
    • Correct pronunciation and enunciation of words
    • Overall summary and presentation are assessed based on whether the message lands clearly and is it well presented
  • Creative Talent and Performance
    • Variety of tones, pace, volume, facial expressions and how it is presented using their own communication skills
    • Consider if the presentation is scripted or unscripted and whether it is unaided in terms of actual presentation
    • Overall creativity, talent and performance assessed based on applicant’s own abilities

Considering above assessment criteria’s each entry would be given a combined total score between 1 to 10 by each judging panel member with 10 being the highest score. Total combined score from all judges would be used to decide the winners in each age category. Where there is a draw the Chair of the Judging Panel would be given an extra vote to conclude all prize winners.

1st Prize would be awarded to the applicant with the highest total score for their age category. 2nd Prize to the next highest scorer. 3rd Prize to the next highest scorer. Where we have combined two age categories the 6 awards would be given to the top 6 highest scorers. The judges can also select 1 additional entry from each age category to be awarded the Judges special prize (maximum 3).

Entry submission requirements
All entry submission must be made by 31st July 2023 via our online competition entry form. Hurry there are mystery prizes for early bird entries. All videos would be uploaded to our YouTube Channel.

There will be an award awards ceremony held on Saturday 16th September 2023 (guest arrival 2.30pm) at Dallow Community Centre, 234 Dallow Road, Luton, LU11TB. There will be refreshments for all guests.

All Applicants, parents, members of the public and dignitaries will be invited to the award ceremony. The Judging Panel Chair will announce the winners and prizes would be awarded to the winning applicants by our special guest dignitaries.

If you any queries or would like to attend the award ceremony in September 2023, please email enquiry@bcpdt.org.uk or contact one of our Trustees listed below.

  • Mr Sundar Ali BEng, CEng MIET (07930 331 591)
  • Mr Ifthekher Alom (07956 230 393)
  • Mr Shahin Uddin (07856 735 358)