đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
Edinburgh programme uses football to improve literacy skills
15-Apr-2026 - UK
An Edinburgh football-themed learning course is helping adults improve their literacy and numeracy skills. The 10-week programme, titled Back of the Net, uses the sport to engage participants in a relaxed environment while boosting their reading, writing, communication, and digital skills.
Read moreOne book in three weeks? At some universities that would be a triumph
14-Apr-2026 - UK
At the London Book Fair earlier this month, Joanna Prior, chief executive of Pan Macmillan and chair of the National Literacy Trust, warned that the decline in reading poses a greater threat to the publishing industry than artificial intelligence (AI) ever could. She cited University of Oxford professor Jonathan Bate’s observation that university students who once read three books a week now struggle to finish one in three weeks.
Read moreFree coaching for adults to learn to read - Ikram's story
13-Apr-2026 - UK
One day Ikram was in the library with his children. He was showing them the books when the librarian came up to him and said, 'I’ve seen you showing your children the pictures in the books, but I have never heard you reading'. When Ikram told her he couldn’t read very much, the librarian told him all about Read Easy. He contacted us straight away and soon, he was following his own reading journey alongside his children’s
Read moreDolly Parton's Imagination Library books arrive in village
10-Apr-2026 - UK
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has launched in Lambourn thanks to funding from the Lambourn Church of England School House Trust, in partnership with Lambourn Junction Community Interest Company. The scheme delivers free, age-appropriate books each month to children under five, aiming to ignite a lifelong love of reading.
Read moreRead Easy Chilterns pays tribute to Buckinghamshire supporter
09-Apr-2026 - UK
A Buckinghamshire charity has paid tribute to one of its supporters after a generous donation to help its work. Read Easy Chilterns has honoured the life of Graham Jones, whose legacy will support adults learning to read across the county.
Read moreLondon mayor uses unspent adult skills funding for youth NEETs programme
09-Apr-2026 - UK
Millions in unspent adult education funding held by the mayor of London will be diverted to youth unemployment schemes. Over the next two years, London mayor Sadiq Khan will use £9 million of the Greater London Authority’s adult skills fund reserves to pay for the capital city’s support for young Londoners-NEET programme. The move has prompted concerns that already-stretched adult education funding is being used to “fill gaps” left by government cuts for other programmes.
Read moreHow a love of books could boost your money skills
09-Apr-2026 - UK
New analysis of millions of people’s credit files has revealed a strong connection between literacy levels and credit profiles. Credit agency Experian has reviewed data on UK constituencies with a vulnerability to low literacy and linked this up with credit profiles. It found in constituencies with the highest vulnerability to low literacy average credit scores were between 6% and 12% below the national average of 850.
Read moreCouncil awards funding boost to inclusive community project in West Bridgford
09-Apr-2026 - UK
A West Bridgford community project has received a funding boost to support its work providing a safe and inclusive space for adults with additional needs to come together, build confidence, and feel part of their community. The initiative promotes social connection and wellbeing by helping individuals develop essential life skills including communication, teamwork, customer service, literacy and numeracy, as well as increasing awareness of healthy eating, food waste, and environmental responsibility.
Read moreAlesha Dixon backs free book scheme
09-Apr-2026 - UK
Singer, children's author and television presenter Alesha Dixon is backing a new scheme offering free books to families to boost literacy and life chances. Dixon is supporting the launch of a "Library of No Returns", where children can take books home to keep. The initiative, led by Experian in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, will be based in Walsall, an area identified as having lower literacy rates.
Read moreWhy some children with learning difficulties get identified – and others don’t
08-Apr-2026 - UK
Two children sit in different schools. Both struggle to read. Both have similar low scores on national tests. But while one gets a diagnosis of specific learning difficulties and a package of support, the other is left to fall behind. Fewer than 2% of pupils in England are identified as having a specific learning difficulty. That figure sits well below international estimates suggesting that between 5% and 10% of children are affected. Some researchers put the true prevalence of reading difficulties as high as one in five.
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