đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
New free reading initiative comes to Swindon Libraries
07-Aug-2026 - UK
A new scheme offering free, one-to-one reading coaching for adults is coming to Swindon Libraries. Read Easy, introduced after discussions related to the National Year of Reading, aims to help around 2.4 million adults in England who struggle to read or cannot read at all. The initiative, which seeks to build confidence and improve reading skills, is now on the lookout for volunteer literacy specialists. People with backgrounds in teaching reading or literacy, or those with experience in supporting learners, are being encouraged to apply.
Read moreCharity changing lives by helping adults learn to read
05-Aug-2026 - UK
A volunteer group is changing lives by helping adults learn to read. Read Easy Croydon currently supports more than 20 adults with free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching, delivered by trained volunteers. Two learners have graduated from the programme this year as the charity celebrates its impact during England's National Year of Reading and the 60th anniversary of UNESCO's International Literacy Day.
Read moreEngland’s education reforms: global success story?
04-Aug-2026 - UK
When Michael Gove became education secretary in 2010, the UK’s scores in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), which compares education attainment across 38 developed countries, were “at an all-time low”, said The Times. Gove used the data to “argue for urgent reforms” and introduced a new curriculum in England that emphasised core subjects. Since then, the UK’s 15-year-olds have “climbed global rankings” in literacy and numeracy; they are now ninth among OECD peers for reading (up from 20th) and 11th for maths (up from 22nd). In the most recent Pisa assessment, the UK’s scores were all “above the OECD average”
Read moreReady Easy Winchester readers celebrated for their progress
03-Aug-2026 - UK
The Mayor of Winchester recently celebrated the achievements of adult learners improving their reading skills. Cllr Jamie Scott and his wife, Wendy, attended Read Easy Winchester's annual celebration evening at St Peter's Church. The group offers free, one-to-one coaching to adults wishing to learn to read, using a structured, phonics-based programme called Turning Pages.
Read moreUniversity of Stirling research calls for inclusive literacy lessons
30-Jul-2026 - UK
What happens to a young person in school can have a psychological impact for decades to come. New research out of the University of Stirling is providing teachers with resources and backing to change the way they teach reading, replacing traditional tiered reading groups with integrated and inclusive lessons for pupils of all abilities. Researcher Dr Jess Anderson suggests that the seemingly innocuous act of being placed in the “bottom” reading group in class can leave young people with “imposter syndrome” and lingering feelings of “stupidity” that last well into adulthood.
Read morePeople read less: Do we still need the Booker Prize?
30-Jul-2026 - UK
What is the point of literary prizes? The longlist for this year’s Booker Prize was announced on Tuesday, 13 works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, which must be written in English and published in the UK or Ireland to be eligible for fiction writing’s most prestigious award. They were chosen by the panel of judges from 163 submissions and will be reduced to a shortlist of six in September before the award ceremony on 9 November. Yet this is happening while, we are regularly told, the practice of reading, and especially reading fiction, is in headlong retreat. A 2024 survey by the Reading Agency revealed that 50 per cent of adults in the UK do not read “regularly”; among 16-24-year-olds, a quarter had never been “regular” readers and another 44 per cent were “lapsed readers”. That means barely one in three young people reads as a matter of habit
Read moreChildren's books appeal organised by Morpeth education provider receives thousands of donations
28-Jul-2026 - UK
A community-wide children’s books appeal launched by a Morpeth education provider has been met with an overwhelming response. The initiative was organised and sponsored by Maximize Education CEO Christine Jamieson as part of the National Literacy Trust’s National Year of Reading 2026. Aiming to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds discover the joy of reading, more than 5,000 suitable books have been donated.
Read moreSchoolreaders 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 Water’s 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 city’s 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.
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