Newark Book Festival is launching a new scheme for young people aged 7-21.

The Young Ambassadors programme aims to spread the word to book-loving young people and provides opportunities for them to get involved in a literature festival.

Applications are open until Friday, 2nd June for the first 2023 cohort.

The festival, which is all about books and has been running for seven years, helps people to explore and discover their love of books, reading, and telling stories.

Last year it hosted 66 events in 15 venues across Newark and Sherwood, with 215 artists and more than 7,500 audience members enjoying talks, workshops, street theatre, music, and interactive family events.

This year’s festival runs from 6th to 9th July. It has a theme of Our World.

Events will explore nature and visitors will learn all about the planet as well as exploring further afield to outer space.

The festival’s artistic director, Sara Bullimore, said: “This is the first year for our Young Ambassadors programme and it’s a great opportunity for young people to represent the festival and engage with the event.

“Our ambassadors will get the chance to shout about their favourite books and be part of our wonderful community of readers, writers and book-lovers. For our Festival Champions it will look great on their CVs too!”

There will be three levels for the programme — Little Readers, aged 7-11: Book Lovers, aged 12 -16, and Festival Champions, aged 17 -21.

Ambassadors will help promote the festival in advance through fun and engaging ways, with opportunities to volunteer at the festival itself. As well as receiving a variety of rewards for getting involved, including certificates and training, all Young Ambassadors will be entered into a prize draw to win their own mini Barry the Bookworm festival mascot.

Newark Book Festival’s Young Ambassadors programme is supported by Arts Council England and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Application forms and further details are available by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]