đ° Adult Literacy News Summary
Want to read more? Two experts give their tips on what you can do
08-Jan-2026 - UK
Reading promises so much: better mental health, a sense of wellbeing, cultural and educational enrichment, even greater confidence and eloquence. It sounds irresistible; yet for many of us, the reality is very different. Half of the adults in the UK donât read regularly for pleasure, and more than one in ten find reading difficult.
Read moreQueen says her charityâs mission is âmore urgent than everâ
08-Jan-2026 - UK
The Queen has underscored the âmore urgent than everâ mission of her charity, The Queenâs Reading Room, as it marks its fifth anniversary, asserting that âbooks do make life betterâ. Founded by Camilla during lockdown, the initiative has grown into a global charity, connecting more than 186,000 book enthusiasts across more than 180 countries. Despite this reach, the Kingâs consort voiced concern over plummeting global reading rates.
Read moreThe literacy gap at primary school needs to be urgently addressed
07-Jan-2026 - UK
Research shows that the scale of the primary school reading gap is clearly being overlooked and it is to the countryâs detriment. Nearly three in five UK adults are unaware that a quarter of children leave primary school not able to read well, a survey commissioned by Bookmark Reading Charity found.
Read moreBernicia Foundation grant provides literacy support for adults in Cramlington
05-Jan-2026 - UK
Bringing Words to Life, a North East literacy charity, has helped dozens of vulnerable adult learners in Northumberland improve their reading and writing skills with the support of a ÂŁ10,000 grant from The Bernicia Foundation. Each year, over 700 people, aged 22 to 70, across the region gain confidence and skills in reading, writing, and self-expression through their programmes
Read more2026 Year of Reading urges children to pick up the book
04-Jan-2026 - UK
Bolton Library is inviting children across the area to ditch the gadgets and pick up the books this year for the National Year of Reading. The team is currently running the Winter Mini Challenge, where reading and reviewing three books between now and February 20 gives youngsters a chance to win a bundle of exciting children's books, as well as a certificate and online badge.
Read moreChichester's Childrenâs BookFest faces the challenges ahead
02-Jan-2026 - UK
Chichester-based charity Childrenâs BookFest says it enjoyed ârecord impactâ in 2025 as it commits to supporting the Governmentâs 2026 National Year of Reading. The charity, dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading, is celebrating its most far-reaching year to date â a year that saw thousands of Sussex children receive their own free, signed copy of a book, given to them by the author. This was set against a backdrop of alarming new research, showing that reading for pleasure among young people has reached a 20-year low.
Read moreThe Guardian view on the National Year of Reading 2026: time to start a healthy habit for life
29-Dec-2025 - UK
A Childrenâs Booker prize, library cards for newborns and a major campaign â initiatives to encourage a love of books in children are a cause for celebration. Reading to children from a young age leads to greater happiness, educational success, empathy and social mobility â no wonder the government wants to encourage everyone to do it more.
Read moreChatGPT, cooking and Christopher Walken: how parents got their kids to love reading in 2025
29-Dec-2025 - UK
Fewer children are reading for fun - but parents are trying everything from AI to dramatic voices to keep them engaged. According to an April report from HarperCollins UK, parents have lost the love of reading to their children, with fewer than half of gen Z parents calling the activity âfun for meâ. According to the survey of 1,596 parents of children aged zero to 13, almost one in three found reading âmore a subject to learnâ than an experience to enjoy.
Read more"All children are still into Roald Dahl"
27-Dec-2025 - UK
Next year is the National Year of Reading, a campaign to address the decline in reading among children, young people and adults, and councils have been asked to stage events. Some set to go ahead include "Book Bingo, external" in Warwickshire, where library members can read or listen to 12 books to complete a bingo card and enter a prize draw. A new book club starts in January at The Hive in Worcester, with the genre changing each session. The first meeting kicks off with comedy and satire, "a chance to laugh, reflect and explore witty storytelling in good company". Newport Community Library in Shropshire urged people to pick up a book instead of "doom-scrolling, external" and said: "You just might find you feel a lot better for it."
Read moreMinisters Lawless and Harkin urge adults to build confidence with new devices and boost essential skills in the New Year
26-Dec-2025 - Ireland
Many adults across the country opened smartphones, tablets or laptops this Christmasâbut for some, the excitement is mixed with uncertainty about how to use them confidently. Today, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD and Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin TD are encouraging adults to take the next step and build their digital, literacy, financial and numeracy skills through courses available nationwide.
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