đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
Literacy charity Bringing Words to Life supports vulnerable adults in Northumberland with ÂŁ10,000 boost
18-Dec-2025 - UK
A charity has helped dozens of vulnerable adults in Northumberland improve their reading and writing skills thanks to a £10,000 boost. Since 2013, Bringing Words to Life has worked across Newcastle, Gateshead, and Northumberland to improve literacy and communication skills in some of the country’s lowest-performing areas, as identified by the National Literacy Trust. Each year, over 700 people, aged 22 to 70, gain confidence and skills in reading, writing, and self-expression through their programmes
Read moreDulwich children perform carols to raise money for local charity teaching adults to read
14-Dec-2025 - UK
Children from Dulwich sang carols in London Bridge last week to raise money for a local charity which teaches adults how to read. Young singers from the Dulwich College Kindergarten and Infants’ School (DUCKS) filled Hay’s Galleria on Wednesday, 3 December, where they delighted audiences with festive carols. All the funds raised by the concert have been donated to Read Easy Southwark, a charity teaching adults to read which is completely run by volunteers
Read moreWoman wins award for dedication to learning later in life
14-Dec-2025 - UK
A West Berkshire woman has recently won an award for learning to read later in life. According to data by Read Easy West Berkshire, more than seven per cent of adults across the UK either cannot read or have very poor reading ability. The team at Read Easy West Berkshire work to tackle this issue by offering free one-to-one reading courses. Team leader Elaine Brichard explains: “We’re here to help them see the benefits of improving their reading ability, and not to feel ashamed or embarrassed about it and one of our readers was recently awarded the Terry Stares Award by the West Berkshire Community Learning Team.”
Read moreSalisbury reading group seeks new volunteers
13-Dec-2025 - UK
A Salisbury-based literacy group has made an urgent appeal for volunteers. Julia West has led the South and East Wiltshire Read Easy group since its launch three years ago but has decided to let someone else take up the challenge. She said: “I am really proud of what we have achieved to date. I would like to thank all our volunteers, without whom none of this could happen. “We are always looking for new volunteers and would love to hear from you if you can help in any way.” The team is desperately seeking a coordinator, administrator and fundraiser.
Read moreScreen grab: can books win the battle for children’s attention
12-Dec-2025 - UK
Over the past few weeks, my three children have been overtaken by a sudden desire to write. Specifically, they’ve been writing lists — Christmas lists. Only my 10-year-old daughter wants a book. It’s a small sample, but my findings tally with the more rigorous annual survey by the UK’s National Literacy Trust (NLT): this year it found that just one in three young people aged five to 18 enjoy reading in their free time — the lowest level in 20 years.
Read moreConsultation launched on how adult education money is spent
11-Dec-2025 - UK
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) has begun a six-week consultation on a significant change to how money on adult education is spent in the area. Known as ESOL, in 2023/24, approximately ÂŁ1m was spent on this in Lincolnshire, supporting over 1,400 residents to learn English. Adult skills funding will be devolved from next year to the Mayor and combined authority. The Mayor, Dame Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK), favours scrapping ESOL funding to put into wider adult literacy education programmes. She said levels of illiteracy in England were "a stain on our history", and talked up mobile apps as an alternative for non-English speakers to learn.
Read moreBook trust donations boost for foodbanks in Fife
11-Dec-2025 - UK
Foodbanks in Fife are to get donations of books from Scottish Book Trust this Christmas. It has been inundated with requests from food banks and local authorities, to support more vulnerable children and families facing challenging circumstances. Levenmouth Foodbank Community Support Project, based in in Methil, is working to help books.
Read moreEducation Minister Launches New Literacy Framework for Primary Schools
10-Dec-2025 - UK
The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has officially launched a new literacy framework designed for primary schools, with the goal of strengthening literacy practices across Northern Ireland. The framework, titled Strong Foundations: A Literacy Framework for Primary Schools, was unveiled today at the TransformED Literacy Symposium. The Minister addressed a large audience that included school leaders, teachers, researchers, and policymakers during the event.
Read more"I spent 25 years pretending I could read"
10-Dec-2025 - UK
A woman who spent 25 years hiding the fact she could not read has said there should be more support for adults with undiagnosed dyslexia. Charities have warned hundreds of thousands of adults across England and Wales could be struggling without a clear or free diagnosis pathway. When Ms Randall was 42 she reached out to the charity Read Easy, which helps adults learn to read on a 1-2-1 basis.
Read moreHachette UK pledges ÂŁ200k to fund 200 Book Nooks as part of Raising Readers campaign
09-Dec-2025 - UK
In his end of year letter, Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group chief executive officer David Shelley revealed that the publisher would be pledging ÂŁ200,000 in 2026 to fund 200 Book Nooks across the UK, as part of the Raising Readers campaign. The fund, created to mark 200 years of the publisher, will be dedicated to social impact initiatives as part of the ongoing campaign "to combat the decline in children reading for pleasure". The new scheme launches in spring 2026, and in the UK community groups and charities will be able to apply for one of the Book Nooks, which include everything needed to create a dedicated reading space.
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