Comic Book UK partner The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) are dedicated to amplifying the power of comic arts, celebrating creator stories, and demonstrating the transformative role comics play in literacy, education, and community engagement across the UK.
Central to LICAF’s mission is its groundbreaking ‘Comics in the Classroom’ initiative. By bringing sequential art directly into educational settings, LICAF is proving that comics are not merely entertainment, but an essential educational tool that can unlock reading confidence, foster creative expression, and boost student engagement.
Empowering Educators Through School Engagement
LICAF’s school engagement programmes work directly with primary schools, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools and educators to integrate graphic novels and comic creation into the core curriculum. Through hands-on workshops, teacher training, and artist visits, the programme equips educators with practical strategies to teach visual literacy, drafting, and narrative structure.
The LICAF team facilitated sessions across several schools in the region, reaching over 100 pupils across primary and SEND provision schools, as well as providing consultations to educators.
As part of the wider campaign to make Barrow-in-Furness the UK’s first Comics Reading Town, LICAF’s outreach demonstrates how embedding comics into local schools creates a vibrant culture of reading both inside and outside the classroom.
Inclusion and Impact for SEND Students
One of the most remarkable aspects of comics in education is their accessibility for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those growing up in disadvantaged circumstances. The combination of visual cues and text reduces cognitive barriers, making complex narratives approachable and enjoyable.
LICAF’s targeted work in SEND settings highlights how visual storytelling helps neurodivergent learners develop critical thinking, visual literacy, and social-emotional confidence. By offering multiple entry points to story creation, comics empower every child to see themselves as a reader and creator.
A Shared Vision for Comics Literacy
At CBUK, we believe that comics belong everywhere, including in classrooms, libraries, and community spaces. Through our ongoing partnership with LICAF, we look forward to supporting their year-round vision, championing educators and creators, and advocating for the lasting educational impact of sequential art across the UK.
