đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
5 reasons parents say they can't find time to read with their kids – and what actually helps
19-Mar-2026 - UK
A major UK survey reveals a sharp fall in parents reading, playing and chatting at home. What lies behind the five hidden barriers shaping early literacy? In 2025, only 45.9% of UK parents read daily with their children, a decline from previous years, according to the National Literacy Trust. Five main barriers include work schedules, cost of activities, limited local options, cost of resources, and lack of support. Discover how small changes and structural support can enhance the home learning environment and improve early literacy outcomes.
Read moreRoom to Read’s Hong Kong annual gala raises HKD10 million for global children’s education
16-Mar-2026 - Hong Kong
Room to Read, the non-profit supporting literacy and gender equality in education worldwide, held its Hong Kong gala on Mar. 6, raising HKD10.18 million (USD1.3 million) in donations to support its global programmes.
Read moreAdult learning deserves a national conversation
16-Mar-2026 - UK
Too often policy is made without hearing from the people delivering it. A new APPG inquiry into adult education aims to reverse that by gathering evidence from across the FE sector. Jonathan Brash (MP for Hartlepool, and chair of the APPG for Further Education and Lifelong Learning) announced an inquiry into adult education which will explore five key areas: economic growth, skills and workforce needs, social mobility and inclusion, health, wellbeing and community resilience, policy, funding and the future of lifelong learning and learning from across the UK and beyond.
Read moreRead Easy South & East Wiltshire raising awareness of work
14-Mar-2026 - UK
A charity that helps adults learn to read has been raising awareness of its work. Two volunteers with Read Easy South & East Wiltshire, affiliated to the national charity Read Easy UK, spoke with members of the public during a session in Salisbury.
Read moreAlmost half of England’s library staff axed during austerity
13-Mar-2026 - UK
Library staff across England have been cut by almost half since 2010, leaving services stretched and communities without vital support after years of austerity, says UNISON. Research by the union, based on data provided by England’s councils, shows staffing levels fell by 47% between 2010 and 2025. Libraries directly employed 17,902 staff in 2010/11. That figure fell to 9,497 by 2024/25, amounting to a loss of 8,406 full-time roles.
Read more"It’s like a giant book club": how schools are getting children excited about reading again
13-Mar-2026 - UK
Research has shown there is a reading for pleasure crisis among children in the UK, where enjoyment of books has fallen to its lowest level in two decades. Not so here at Christ Church primary, a tiny Church of England school tucked behind the maze of HS2 construction works in Camden, north London, where children fizz with excitement about books.
Read moreLinguistics professor Victor Kuperman awarded a 2026 Killam Fellowship
11-Mar-2026 - Canada
Kuperman’s research project will focus on using AI to improve adult literacy, especially for newcomers to Canada. Primarily, it will work with learners of English as a second or additional language — and with Canada being the immigrant country that it is, there’s plenty of need for that. Someone who speaks Portuguese will need a slightly different output than someone who speaks Arabic, for example, because learners of English face different challenges with the language depending on what other language they speak. The novel part is this very personalized education — this customized preparation of reading materials that will adjust to that specific person’s proficiency as well as which first language they speak.
Read moreFrom struggle to light: Wiltshire man's literacy journey
10-Mar-2026 - UK
A man who struggled with reading for most of his life has now found joy in books. Trowbridge resident Roy Verrier, aged 58, recently completed 85 reading sessions with Read Easy North and West Wiltshire, a charity offering free, one-to-one coaching for adults who have difficulty with reading and writing. Mr Verrier was referred to the programme by a social prescriber at his GP surgery.
Read moreLiteracy charity seeks Southport volunteers to help children become confident readers
10-Mar-2026 - UK
Coram Beanstalk, a national children’s charity with over 50 years’ experience of supporting children to become confident, independent readers, is looking for volunteers in Southport. At Coram Beanstalk, we believe that every child has potential. But for many, limited one-to-one support, a lack of books that reflect their interests and a home without reading advocates can make learning to read feel like building a Lego castle without the instructions.
Read moreLeicestershire universities "Go All In" to host March events for national reading competition
10-Mar-2026 - UK
Universities across Leicester and Leicestershire are backing a national campaign to encourage more young people to read by hosting a series of literary events for the community throughout March. To help drive the initiative, De Montfort University, Loughborough University, and the University of Leicester – which forms the Universities Partnership – are hosting festivals, exhibitions and book swaps throughout March and the rest of the year.
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