đ° Adult Literacy News Summary
Schoolreaders expanding reach thanks to Bournemouth Water
24-Jul-2026 - UK
Schoolreaders, which provides one-to-one weekly reading sessions to more than 40,000 children, is growing its programme with help from Bournemouth Waterâs Better Futures Fund. The funding will help the charity place phonic-trained volunteers in primary schools, particularly in areas of high deprivation. Izzy Perks, communications manager for Schoolreaders, said: "We are delighted to be working with Bournemouth Water to supply even more children with weekly one-to-one reading support." In Bournemouth, the scheme is already reaching 235 pupils in half the cityâs schools. However, 460 children remain on the waiting list for a volunteer, and demand continues to grow.
Read moreNewland Homes charity installs free library in Cotswolds
24-Jul-2026 - UK
A new Little Free Library has opened in Tetbury and the community is invited to share and enjoy books. Located at The Limes on London Road, the library was created by Tetbury Men's Shed, a group where people can develop practical skills. This library is the second community book exchange set up by Newland Homes, as part of its support for the National Year of Reading 2026, an initiative by the Department for Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust. The goal of the Little Free Library is to be a continuously growing resource, where people can borrow a book and leave one behind for others
Read moreShould a library in every school be a legal requirement?
23-Jul-2026 - UK
Should a library in every school be a legal requirement? According to one group of MPs - the Education Committee - the answer is yes. They published a report last week, giving recommendations to the government on how to increase reading for pleasure for young people, which hit a 20-year low last year. According to the National Literacy Trust, one in seven primary schools in the UK do not have a library.
Read moreAmazon Chesterfield team packs literacy kits for young readers
23-Jul-2026 - UK
Amazon volunteers at the fulfilment centre in Chesterfield packed literacy kits filled with books and reading materials for local children as part of the âReading is FUNdamentalâ initiative and donated it to The West Midlands Multibank. Each kit was designed to spark a love of reading and support children's educational development - particularly those from low-income households who may not have access to books at home. The kits were distributed to local schools and community organisations to help close the literacy gap through the West Midlands Multibank.
Read moreThe dad who learned to read in his 20s
22-Jul-2026 - UK
Shane Johnson still remembers the feeling that would rush through him when trying to read an unfamiliar word. A simple form, menu or letter - the words in front of him may as well have been written in Sanskrit. For years, the Birmingham father of one quietly navigated life without being able to read properly. He became skilled at hiding it, finding ways around everyday situations that many people take for granted. While studying Entry Level 2 English at Birmingham Adult Education Service's Selly Oak base, a tutor suggested he contact Read Easy, a charity that provides free one-to-one reading coaching for adults. It was a recommendation that would alter the course of Johnson's life.
Read moreChildren's BookFest brings national literacy experts together as reading for pleasure faces new challenges
22-Jul-2026 - UK
Some of the UK's leading voices in literacy gathered alongside teachers from across the Chichester district last week to explore one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: how to inspire a lifelong love of reading. Hosted by Chichester-based charity Children's BookFest at Chichester Library, the teachers' conference brought together literacy expert Charlotte Hacking, award-winning poet Simon Mole and author and teacher Nicola Garrard for an evening of discussion, practical ideas and shared experiences. Taking place during the National Literacy Trust's National Year of Reading, the event came at a pivotal moment for children's reading. While the National Literacy Trust has reported a welcome increase in reading for pleasure among teenagers over the past six months, speakers highlighted that this reflects years of dedicated work by teachers, schools, libraries and literacy organisations
Read moreEuropeâs Hidden Literacy Divide: Why Near-Universal Reading Skills Mask a Growing Challenge
18-Jul-2026 - Europe
For decades, Europeâs education systems have been regarded as among the worldâs most successful. Across the European Union, adult literacy rates routinely exceed 99 per cent, placing the bloc among the most educated populations on earth. On paper, at least, illiteracy has become a historical footnote rather than a pressing public policy concern. Yet the statistics tell only part of the story. Beneath the reassuring headline figures lies a more complicated picture: while very few Europeans are unable to read or write at a basic level, millions struggle to interpret complex written information, complete administrative forms, understand health advice or adapt to increasingly digital workplaces. The challenge confronting Europe today is less about eliminating illiteracy than about raising literacy to meet the demands of a modern economy.
Read moreQueen Camilla celebrates 79th birthday with book giveaway for children
17-Jul-2026 - UK
Queen Camilla has announced that she will celebrate her 79th birthday by giving away books to children across the UK. Camilla has made childrenâs literacy one of her key issues and is patron of the National Literacy Trust. Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that she had arranged for a special edition of Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell to be given to every year 6 and P6 child this Christmas.
Read moreNational Year of Reading should extend to a decade, inquiry says
17-Jul-2026 - UK
The National Year of Reading should be extended to a National Decade of Reading, an education committee inquiry into reading for pleasure has concluded. The government should also commit to a National Reading Guarantee that would ensure all children have regular opportunities to enjoy reading, the committee argues. The Reading for Pleasure inquiry was launched last November in response to a sharp decline in the number of children reading for pleasure. National Literary Trust CEO Jonathan Douglas told the committee that this yearâs National Year of Reading should be âturned into a decade of reading to sustain the foundations that are being laidâ, according to the inquiry report, published Friday.
Read moreDerby adult reading charity launches urgent appeal for volunteer coaches
16-Jul-2026 - UK
A local charity is urgently searching for new volunteers to help thousands of adults in Derby learn how to read. Read Easy Derby & District needs more coaching assistants to cope with a major rise in demand for its free and confidential service. More than 19,000 people in the city struggle with reading, which is about 7% of the local adult population.
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