National Literacy Trust in Salford

15/06/2026

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

10/06/2026

Today, our new research shows that children and young people's enjoyment of reading has risen for the first time in five years🌱

More than a third (36.1%) of children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time and 1 in 5 (20.3%) said they read daily in their free time.

And our work in communities like Salford is making a difference. Children in the schools where we work most intensively were 15% more likely to enjoy reading in their free time and 34% more likely to enjoy reading at school, compared to their peers across England.

Despite these gains, children’s levels of daily reading and reading enjoyment across the UK are still low. With your support we can keep this momentum going and help more children in Salford develop the literacy skills they need to thrive.

Find out more about the research: https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/our-latest-research-shows-modest-rise-in-childrens-reading-engagement-but-levels-remain-low/

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

We had a fantastic time with our friends in Salford on Sunday at our Big Lunch: Sharing Stories event🩷

We joined the ‘We Invented the Weekend’ festival to celebrate the power of sharing stories and food to connect communities during the National Year of Reading. We gifted over 1,000 books to young people in the community too.

Plus, we were delighted to be joined by award-winning actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh, for a special story time session!

The event was a chance to say thank you to our brilliant Literacy Champion volunteers who encourage children, young people and adults to discover a love of reading and connect with their communities.

Could you join our team of dedicated volunteers? Find out more: literacytrust.org.uk/volunteers

02/06/2026

This , we’re celebrating our incredible team of literacy champions in Salford, who make change happen. 💙

Mulikat joined our Salford team as a Literacy Champion in April 2025. Since then, Mulikat has pioneered a brilliant series of events. Inspired by her children’s curiosity about different countries, she created ‘Read Around the World’, where volunteers run stalls representing different countries. At each stall, children take part in a literacy activity which showcases a story, piece of history, or folklore from that country. This helps children explore the world through reading.

As well as this, Mulikat frequently runs ‘Look for a Book’ activities in her local area, and is a valued member of the Community Engagement Group, where she always brings fantastic creative ideas.

Here’s what Mulikat loves about being a Literacy Champion volunteer:

“I became a Literacy Champion because I’ve seen how powerful literacy can be. Literacy gives children and adults not just the ability to read and write, but the confidence to find their voice and shape their culture, community and future. My favourite part of volunteering is building genuine connections and watching people grow in confidence over time. Knowing I have played a part in someone’s journey is incredibly meaningful and rewarding.”

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Mulikat and all our literacy champions in Salford, and Happy Volunteers Week!🥳

18/05/2026

Join us for our next virtual ‘Go All In Together!’ Event this Wednesday 20 May as part of the . This event is inspired by the beloved children’s book Stanley’s Stick🪾

Children from St Joseph's RC Primary School in Salford took part in a musical experience that paired Stanley’s Stick with the Northern Chamber Orchestra. This will feature in the broadcast on Wednesday!

Perfect if you have, or teach, children in KS1, this will spark their imaginations and encourage them to use stories to explore the world around them.

Don’t miss out on this exciting event filmed in our very own city, celebrating Share-a-Story-Month.

Sign up now: https://literacytrust.org.uk/events/go-all-in-together-event-where-sticks-become-stories-a-musical-journey/

13/05/2026

Ever been to or heard of a Living Library?

Well, a Living Library is an interactive event where you can “borrow” a person and hear their real-life story.

Join us on Friday at this special Salford edition, which will shine a light on local people and the opportunities that shaped their journeys, whether through education, career changes, community, or taking a chance on something new.

You won’t just listen, you’ll connect, ask questions, and find inspiration!

We hope to see you there.

📣 Salford Stories: Living Library will Take place on the 15th of May at Pendleton Gateway 10.30am-2pm 📣

The Human Library is an interactive event that invites people to “borrow” individuals instead of books, creating space for open conversations and meaningful connection. Each “human book” shares their personal story and lived experience.

The aim of the event is to break down barriers, challenge previous perceptions, and inspire through real-life stories that people can relate to.

This event will focus on stories from Salford, highlighting how local opportunities have shaped people’s lives. It will also encourage attendees to reflect on and explore similar opportunities for themselves.

We will have education providers there on the day to share opportunities, so come down to learn about how someone's life changed by attending classes at Salford City College Group.

The first 100 attendees will receive a free book voucher! This event is open to all.

30/04/2026

📣Calling families in Broughton!

On the 8th May from 2pm, we will be hiding free children's book packs around Broughton Gateway for you to discover. These packs have kindly been put together by a team of volunteers at Bupa,and hidden by our fantastic Literacy Champion Eve, with support from the National Literacy Trust. 😃

Each pack includes a children's book, with a wide selection suitable for children aged 3-11 years-old, as well as bookmarks and top tips for sharing stories at home. 🌟📚

Head to Broughton Gateway to see if you can spot a book pack to take home and enjoy. (Here's a hint: look out for colourfully decorated 'Free Book' signs.)

To avoid disappointment, please note that we can't guarantee the book packs will still be available when you arrive.

Happy searching - and if you find one, we'd love to hear how it made you feel!

23/04/2026

Happy World Book Night everyone🌕

World Book Night marks an opportunity to inspire more adults across the UK to get reading.

As well as hiding lots of books around Salford, our brilliant Literacy Champions are going to show you what they read during the

Thanks to Mulikat, Eve, Shelley, Sara, Martha, Bea, and our very own reading rabbit, for sharing their recommendations!🐰

Tell us in the comments, did you get involved and what did you read?

23/04/2026

Have you spotted any hidden books around Salford today?

Well, to celebrate World Book Night, our Literacy Champions, Shelley, Mulikat, Amanda, Reem and Ellen have been busy hiding free books for adults to find and take home across different areas in Salford.

You might find our books on public transport, in local parks, cafes and more all over Salford! Perhaps you recognise some of the places below?

Get searching and let us know in the comments what you manage to find!