National Literacy Trust

National Literacy Trust We empower people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.

18/06/2026

Who’s your football GOAT? 🐐⚽️

This summer, we’re celebrating the Summer of Sport as part of the by connecting reading with the things that children and young people already love… like football!

⚽️ For every copy of the Ultimate Football Heroes series bought in WHSmith during the World Cup, 50p will be donated to the National Literacy Trust, helping every child to see themselves as a reader.

This series from Bonnier Books UK brings the stories of footballing stars to life and shows how sport and storytelling can come together to help young fans discover the joy of reading.

Pick up a copy in any WHSmith store by 21 July to help children across the UK build the literacy skills they need to succeed.

If you work with children or young people, you could inspire them to develop a love of reading that will not only suppor...
13/06/2026

If you work with children or young people, you could inspire them to develop a love of reading that will not only support their learning and life chances, but build their confidence and wellbeing too.

Our latest research shows an upturn in children and young people's reading enjoyment for the first time in five years. But there's still more work to do to ensure every child as the support they need to discover a love of reading.
..That's where you come in! We're looking for volunteers to take part in Books Out Loud - an initiative to encourage a love of stories through reading aloud with children and young people.

You don’t need to be an expert in books or storytelling to take part. Your understanding of the young people you work with is more important.

Find out more ➡ literacytrust.org.uk/books-out-loud

What parents and carers need to know about our latest reading research 📚Our new research shows a small but hopeful rise ...
12/06/2026

What parents and carers need to know about our latest reading research 📚

Our new research shows a small but hopeful rise in children and young people’s reading enjoyment for the first time in five years.

But we also know that many children still aren’t reading regularly, and some groups are at risk of being left behind.

The good news? Reading doesn’t have to mean sitting down with a book for hours. It can be little and often, and a mixture of formats. Whether thats comics, magazines, audiobooks, football reports, fan fiction, or bedtime stories.

What matters most is that reading feels fun, relevant and supported by the people around them.

Reading can help children learn new words and ideas, relax, understand other people’s views and build confidence — and sharing stories together is one of the simplest ways to help make reading part of everyday life.

If you’re looking for an easy place to start, try our Share A Story with Me booklet, packed with simple ideas to help you enjoy stories, books and conversations together at home.

“Every small contribution matters to families that are struggling. Every free book, every free activity, every positive ...
05/06/2026

“Every small contribution matters to families that are struggling. Every free book, every free activity, every positive encounter with a fellow human.” – A Literacy Champion

When you’re a Literacy Champion volunteer, you make change happen.

Whether that’s gifting a child their very first book, building a book shelf in your community space, or helping local families feel confident supporting their children’s literacy, your actions can help change someone’s story.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to support your local community, connect with others around you, and take part in a national movement, register to volunteer with the National Literacy Trust.

Register to be a Literay Champion volunteer today: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

On Wednesday, during , we teamed up with the National Year of Reading and The Big Lunch, from the Eden Project, to deli...
05/06/2026

On Wednesday, during , we teamed up with the National Year of Reading and The Big Lunch, from the Eden Project, to deliver a spectacular Big Lunch: Sharing Stories celebration at the British Library.

The special event celebrated the power of sharing stories to connect communities, and to celebrate 150 incredible youth, community and corporate volunteers who have inspired others to discover a love of reading and connect with their communities.

Her Majesty The Queen (The Royal Family), Patron of the National Literacy Trust and The Big Lunch, joined the festivities, which included:

🍰 Volunteers sharing stories, experiences and laughter over a sit-down lunch in the Piazza

🥔 National Year of Reading Ambassadors Jack Edwards and Spud Man discussing how they Go All In on their passions through reading

💫 UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, alongside young people Maya and Latifah - the two newly crowned Young Poet Laureates for London 2026/27 through our incredible programme with the National Poetry Centre - performing poems on how stories unite us

📖 A journey through the magical world of stories to connect us to the things we care about in the Library's Fairy Tales family exhibition

And the cherry on top of the (marmalade sandwich-inspired) cake? Beloved character Paddington™ was announced as the latest National Year of Reading ambassador, championing the values of friendship, lending a helping hand and bringing people together through reading and food.

Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting our work to ensure that children, young people and adults are able to connect with reading in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces, and develop literacy skills for life.

If you’re interested in becoming a Literacy Champion volunteer, find out more: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

04/06/2026

When Shaba returned to her role as a Children’s Development Coordinator after maternity leave, she realised that other families with young children in Smethwick were missing out on literacy support and access to books.

Shaba wanted to help change that, so she became a Literacy Champion.

She volunteers to support families through Stay and Play sessions, storytelling activities, book gifting and everyday conversations that help build confidence around literacy.

For Shaba, it’s all about helping parents see that reading doesn’t have to look perfect. It’s the little things that make such a big difference: a story shared at home, a chat in the park, a book gifted to a child. Small moments like these can spark a lifelong love of reading and open up a world of opportunities.

Literacy Champions like Shaba know their community and understand the people around them. As a trusted voice, they can make a truly meaningful difference. With their support, we can learn the best ways to support the literacy of those who need us most across the UK.

Join us today: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

04/06/2026

Eric is a volunteer Literacy Champion in Leicestershire, who uses storytelling to help children and their families fall in love with reading.

After a health scare changed his outlook on life, Eric left the corporate world to focus on writing children’s books with educational messages at their heart.

Eric believes reading transforms children’s confidence, communication skills and imagination. He delivers events and book giveaways in communities and schools across the county, inspiring families to make reading part of everyday life.

Feeling inspired? Sign up to be a Literacy Champion this .

Find out more: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

02/06/2026

Meet Jayden.

Five years ago, he didn’t feel confident with reading and felt that books “weren’t for him.” But everything changed when he started learning about The Great Fire of London in school. He gave reading a try, and everything changed.

Now at 12, Jayden is proudly following in his mum's footsteps as a volunteer Literacy Champion. He helps make sure children and families in his community can pick up free books, enjoy stories together, and feel the same spark he once discovered.

“...It’s important that I give out books because people can’t afford them, it helps my community, and I love to help people. I believe literacy is important because reading helps you get to places you want to in life.” – Jayden.

If you want to help children build brighter futures through the power of stories, we’d love to have you join us.
Register to volunteer today: https://loom.ly/OH7Dlj4

It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re celebrating the incredible people who help change children’s life stories in communities...
01/06/2026

It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re celebrating the incredible people who help change children’s life stories in communities across the UK.

Meet Rachel, one of our inspiring Literacy Champions for Read Manchester.

Literacy Champions are volunteers from all walks of life: parents, early years practitioners, childminders, youth workers, students, sports coaches, electricians, midwives. What unites them? A passion for helping families discover the joy of reading, writing, speaking and listening.

They are trusted local voices who know their communities well. They understand the families, schools, services and neighbourhoods around them, and that’s what makes their support so powerful.

Rachel grew up as the youngest of seven children, and books were her escape. Stories shaped her childhood, and now she’s determined to help other children experience that same spark.

As a Literacy Champion, Rachel has organised activities for families in her area, supported local schools, and even championed literacy in her workplace - securing funding for projects and encouraging colleagues to get involved.

Across the UK, volunteers like Rachel help families access books, run simple reading activities, set up book swaps, support big moments like World Book Day, and share ideas to make reading part of everyday life.

Could you join Rachel and help make a real difference in your community?
Sign up to volunteer today: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

Reading for pleasure is powerful. And so are the people who champion it 💛 It supports learning, wellbeing, confidence an...
26/05/2026

Reading for pleasure is powerful. And so are the people who champion it 💛

It supports learning, wellbeing, confidence and imagination: benefits that last a lifetime.

Across the UK, every community is different, so our local work looks different too. From inner cities to coastal towns, we work alongside families, schools, volunteers and local partners to create welcoming, inclusive reading opportunities where everyone feels they belong.

That might look like:
✨ storytelling sessions in libraries and community spaces
✨ author visits and pop‑up reading events
✨ book gifting and relaxed browsing
✨ trusted local volunteers — known as Literacy Champions — supporting children and families to choose reading materials they love

These volunteers are powerful reading advocates. When reading is modelled by someone you know and trust, it can more seamlessly become part of everyday life.

The is opening doors to new partnerships with local businesses and local people who are helping people to (re)discover a love of reading through their passions.

Could you volunteer as a Literacy Champion and help inspire a love of reading in your community? Find out more: https://loom.ly/gVS99gM

Address

London
SW81RL

Telephone

+442075871842

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Literacy Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category