📰 Adult Literacy News Summary
BBC 500 Words welcomes new celebrity judge Rose Ayling-Ellis
07-Nov-2025 - UK
The UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, BBC 500 Words has added a 6th judge to its panel of celebrity judges – actor and children’s author Rose Ayling-Ellis, who brings fresh perspective and inspiration to the competition that celebrates creativity in all its forms. Rose joins an already star-studded panel including Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sir Lenny Henry, Charlie Higson, and Francesca Simon, with Alex Jones returning as chair.
Read moreNorth East charity tackling adult literacy crisis as new branches set to launch in Northumberland
07-Nov-2025 - UK
A North East charity is taking action to tackle an adult literacy crisis, with new Read Easy groups set to open in Northumberland to add to other parts of the region. The expansion comes as recent research from the North East Chamber of Commerce revealed that 23% of adults in the region struggle with functional literacy. Read Easy Newcastle and North Tyneside now have more than 40 volunteers and 25 active readers, Gateshead and South Tyneside groups are up and running and Northumberland is in the process of launching and actively recruiting new volunteers.
Read moreReform UK mayor’s ESOL cuts not catching on – yet
07-Nov-2025 - UK
A Reform UK mayor’s plans to ditch ESOL courses because they don’t benefit “native” residents have not yet been copied elsewhere in England, an FE Week investigation has found. Last month, Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns announced her intention to redirect about £1 million in funding spent on English for speakers of other languages courses towards a more “inclusive” literacy and numeracy programme
Read moreSomerset man who recently learned to read tours Parliament
06-Nov-2025 - UK
A Somerset man who learned to read as an adult recently toured the Houses of Parliament. Thomas Greenwell, 41, completed a two-year adult reading programme through Read Easy at Williton Library, supported by his tutor Penny. He was invited to the parliamentary visit by Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Minehead and Tiverton, who learned of his achievement through local news coverage
Read moreLancashire partnership opens doors to lifelong learning through local libraries
05-Nov-2025 - UK
Lancashire Adult Learning has won the ‘Healthier Futures’ Award at the Get the Nation Learning Awards this year for its success in improving the health of Lancashire residents through bespoke learning provision. Through partnerships with Public Health, Primary Care Networks and Social Prescribers, Lancashire Adult Learning has engaged over 10,000 learners in around 300 community venues
Read moreSouth Swindon youth worker hides books across Walcot area
04-Nov-2025 - UK
The books have been hidden in the Walcot area by South Swindon Parish Council's youth worker. Loreli is one of National Literacy Trust in Swindon's Literacy Champions. Parents and guardians are encouraged to take their children out to discover these hidden treasures before they are all found. The campaign is part of a broader effort by the National Literacy Trust to involve local residents in making reading, writing, speaking, and communication a priority in the town.
Read moreRead Easy Basingstoke group seeking new volunteers
04-Nov-2025 - UK
Read Easy UK, which helps adults learn to read through free, one-to-one coaching, has operated in Basingstoke since 2019 and is looking for new volunteers to help expand its reach. More than 2.4 million adults across England struggle with reading, and Read Easy UK aims to tackle this through its network of more than 80 volunteer-led groups.
Read moreFinding confidence through reading: Local shares life-changing journey with Read Easy Chilterns
03-Nov-2025 - UK
Kayleigh has shared her inspiring journey of learning to read as an adult, thanks to the support of Read Easy Chilterns, a local charity dedicated to helping adults improve their literacy skills. Growing up, Kayleigh faced challenges in school, placed in special classes where learning was often disrupted. Years later, a chance conversation at a Job Fair with a Read Easy Chilterns volunteer sparked a turning point. Although struggling with low confidence and mental health at the time, the encouragement she received planted a seed of hope
Read moreAdult learning dips after post-pandemic boom
03-Nov-2025 - UK
A post-pandemic boom in adults learning appears to have ended with a sharp dip in the last year, according to a think tank’s annual survey. The adult participation in learning survey, carried out by Learning and Work Institute (L&W) every year since 1996, found that the number of people “currently” engaging with learning fell nine percentage points to 21 per cent when responding in June and July 2025.
Read moreTLDR: Literacy in the digital age
02-Nov-2025 - UK
No one reads these days. If it’s longer than an Instagram caption, it’s not worth my time. I doubt most people will even make it to the end of this article. As more and more studies tracking the decline in literacy pile up, doom-mongering professors self-importantly shake their heads in despair that “people don’t read Joyce any more”.
Read more