A major national campaign to reignite a love of reading across the United Kingdom has been launched, with high-profile backing from England football captain Leah Williamson, bestselling author Richard Osman, and a host of other celebrated figures.
A Nationwide Mission to Reverse a 'Worrying Decline'
The initiative, dubbed the National Year of Reading and branded 'Go All In', is a direct response to what organisers describe as a deeply concerning drop in reading enjoyment among children and young people. The campaign is a joint effort between the government and the National Literacy Trust.
Startling statistics reveal the scale of the challenge: only one in three children and young people aged 8 to 18 now say they enjoy reading in their free time. The gender gap is particularly stark, with just 26% of boys reading for pleasure compared to 39% of girls. Furthermore, over a quarter of pupils are leaving primary school without having reached the expected reading age of an 11-year-old.
The campaign was officially unveiled on Tuesday at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, bringing together a powerful coalition of schools, families, libraries, businesses, and cultural organisations. Alongside Williamson and Osman, ambassadors include beloved authors Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson, and Cressida Cowell, as well as George the Poet and actor Paterson Joseph.
Reading as a 'Quiet Superpower' for Every Child
Speaking at the launch, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson framed the push as "a national mission". She shared personal memories of reading with her grandfather, stating, "I want every child to feel that same joy, whether their passion is football, fantasy, or physics." She urged families to "read together for just 10 minutes a day".
The campaign's core message is inclusive and flexible, encouraging people to engage with any material they love, in any format. "Pick up a book, listen to an audiobook, get stuck into articles on whatever you love," said Leah Williamson. "It all counts."
Richard Osman echoed the sentiment, calling reading "our quiet superpower in an increasingly noisy, complicated world."
Building on Existing Measures with National Events
Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said the year offers "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate the UK’s relationship with reading and change people’s life stories." He emphasised that reading is for everyone, from a baby with a picture book to an adult scanning football news on their commute.
The National Year of Reading builds upon several recent government literacy measures, including:
- A new mandatory reading test for all Year 8 pupils.
- A £5 million investment to support reading in secondary schools.
- A £10 million fund to ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of this parliament.
The year-long programme will feature a series of national events, local activities, and a drive to recruit 100,000 literacy volunteers across the UK to support the ambitious goal.
