đ° Adult Literacy News Summary
Are you taking part in the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge?
21-Jun-2026 - UK
Will you be joining in this year's Summer Reading Challenge? It starts in Scotland on Saturday 20 June, while in England and Wales the first event is on Saturday on 4 July. You can visit your local library to sign up, set a reading goal, choose books, as well as collect special stickers and rewards. Run by the charity, The Reading Agency, this year's theme is Read to the Beat, celebrating the connection between music and reading. Throughout the summer, authors, musicians and some famous faces will be visiting libraries across the UK for free family events, readings and activities linked to the challenge - so don't forget to find out what's happening in your local area.
Read moreNational literacy charity Bookbanks launches new free book hub in South Leeds
19-Jun-2026 - UK
A national charity dedicated to bringing literature directly to families experiencing food insecurity is set to open its first permanent Leeds branch next month. Bookbanks - an organisation that sets up free book stalls inside existing food banks - will officially launch its new Leeds hub on July 1, with the expansion, which also includes a new site in Ipswich, partnering with local food bank networks to provide families with free access to books right before the school holidays begin.
Read morePolitical opinion: MP John Milne raises concerns with Education Secretary over dyslexia support
16-Jun-2026 - UK
Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne, has written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson raising concerns about how dyslexia and specialist literacy support will be addressed in the government's proposed reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. In the letter, the Horsham MP highlighted concerns raised by Michelle Catterson, Headteacher of Moon Hall School and Chair of the British Dyslexia Association, about the future of specialist dyslexia provision. He called on ministers to provide greater clarity on how specialist literacy interventions, expertise and funding will fit within the new system and requested a meeting with Michelle and ministers to discuss the issue further.
Read moreChichester MP praises Children's BookFest literacy work
16-Jun-2026 - UK
An MP has praised a charityâs work promoting literacy after meeting with its trustees earlier this month. Jess Brown-Fuller MP met on Friday, June 5, with trustees of Chichester Children's BookFest to learn more about its efforts to inspire a love of reading among children across the area. Chichester Children's BookFest holds festivals at primary schools throughout Chichester, Bognor, Midhurst and nearby villages, giving every child the opportunity to meet a visiting author and receive a free, dedicated copy of their book.
Read moreOne in three middle-aged adults struggle with everyday health tasks
14-Jun-2026 - USA
Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine tested 942 adults between 35 and 64, all active patients at primary care clinics across Chicago. Leading the work was Abigail Vogeley, a research fellow and neuropsychology doctoral student at Feinberg. Her team found about one in three of these adults struggled with health literacy â the everyday ability to read and act on medical information, like decoding a prescription label or following up after a new diagnosis. Performance split sharply by literacy level. On medication dosing, the lowest-scoring group landed far below those with solid skills. Warning labels were another stumbling block. Questions about avoiding alcohol or direct sunlight while on a drug gave the lower-literacy group real trouble.
Read moreVisitor numbers increase on North Somerset mobile library
13-Jun-2026 - UK
An 84 per cent rise in visitor numbers has been recorded in the region thanks to 'Molly', the councilâs new electric library outreach vehicle, which has welcomed 2,244 visitors in its first four months of service. The figures reflect a growing demand for mobile library services, which reach readers directly in their neighbourhoods, schools and community centres. North Somerset Council says the new vehicle supports its goal of making library services more accessible, sustainable and responsive to community needs. Engagement is planned with organisations, including Read Easy in Pill and Oldmixon.
Read moreTop author warns of long-term âhurtâ caused by men not reading
11-Jun-2026 - UK
Scottish author Douglas Stuart has expressed his concern over the decline in reading among adults, suggesting that men have decided that âfiction isnât for themâ. Having initially been worried about literacy rates among working-class men, whom Stuart said had historically felt excluded by literature, he is now worried that men in general have turned away from reading fiction. âHow do you fix that?â he asked during an interview with the i Paper. âI donât know. If it goes on too long, weâll all feel the societal effects. Weâre going to end up with more people in power who lack empathy and that hurts all of us.â
Read morePublic 'forced out' as classes 'disrupt' the peace in Plymouth
11-Jun-2026 - UK
Claims have been made that two of Plymouth's main libraries are becoming teaching zones and the public are being âforced outâ. One regular library user said it was âcommon placeâ for lessons to be held in quiet public areas at Central Library and Plymstock Library. A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: âOur libraries are designed as welcoming, inclusive community spaces where all members of the public are encouraged to use the facilities, whether to read, study, or access digital resources. We also accommodate âRead Easyâ sessions, where tutors support adults in learning to read and write. These sessions are also carried out at small tables within the public space."
Read moreBooker prize launches new Quick Read in effort to boost adult reading rates
09-Jun-2026 - UK
An initiative that aims to widen access to Booker prize-winning authors is set to launch this week, as research finds that more than a third of UK adults find it hard to read books through to the end. The Booker Prize Foundation is launching a short story collection entitled All Around the World, including works by the Booker prize winners Anne Enright, David Szalay and Booker prize nominee Nadifa Mohamed. The collection was curated by another former winner, Roddy Doyle. Data from the forthcoming State of the Nationâs Adult Reading report shows that 55% said they read less than they intend to, while 19% of 16- to 24-year-olds said they could not âeasily find themselves or their culture represented in booksâ.
Read moreThe World Education Championship (WEC)
06-Jun-2026 - USA
Every four years, the world comes together to celebrate the most-watched sporting event on the planet â the World Cup. As millions of fans cheer for their national teams, another global contest quietly takes place, one that carries lasting consequences for generations to come: The World Education Championship (WEC). In the WEC, nations face off based on their performance in three critical areas: School Life Expectancy; Government Investment in Education; Adult Literacy Rates.
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