National Literacy Trust

Last week, the Words for Work Team hosted an incredible day at The London Book Fair! We welcomed 60 secondary school students for a day packed with inspiring sessions that pulled back the curtain into the world of publishing. The students had the unique opportunity to: - Take part in an engaging panel event with industry professionals - Explore the buzzing exhibition with a guided tour - Participate in a hands-on workshop - Experience speed networking, learning insights from across the industry Throughout the day they gained a deeper understanding of the vast career opportunities within the publishing industry, all while developing key spoken communication skills. This event is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring literacy is not a barrier for young people in reaching their potential and gaining employment. A massive thank you to all the brilliant volunteers who gave their time to make this event such a success, sharing their passion and knowledge across every session. Your support is invaluable and helps young people understand the relevance of literacy to their lives and futures, making these skills more meaningful and motivating.

Today is #WorldPoetryDay and to celebrate we’re shining a light on the West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate programme. Our 2024 research revealed that children who engage with poetry in some form feel more creative, happier and use it as an outlet to express their thoughts and feelings. Poetry can be an especially powerful lifeline for children who receive free school meals, with 1 in 3 choosing to read, write or watch poetry, compared to 1 in 5 of their peers not on free school meals. Now in its second year, the West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate programme provides opportunities for children in the region to explore poetry in new ways, take part in their own poetry week, interact with professional poets and be in with the chance of becoming a Young Poet Laureate. Working with Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the National Poetry Centre, we tap into the potential power of poetry to support the next generation of poets. In its first year of running, one shortlisted pupil told us that they would “always remember” the experience of being shortlisted, having their work published and being mentored by a ‘real’ poet. We recently appointed new Young Poets Laureate in the region – Max from Pontefract and Ayeshah from Calderdale. This is one of Max's poems ⤵️

Insights from our Early Words Matter conference: Their story starts with you, which took place this week in London. ⤵️ 🚼 US-based early years policy expert Dan Wuori emphasized the importance of supporting literacy from the very start. Did you know that our hearing starts before birth – at around 24-26 weeks in the womb? 🚸 Play expert Greg Bottrill evoked the true meaning of “play-full ness” with his talk on taking an inner child lead approach to pedagogy. How we approach language is so key to ensuring children feel safe to learn – and to dream. 🧠 Leaving us with much food for thought, pedagogy and policy expert Jan Dubiel highlighted the significance of working with children. “Each single interaction changes a child’s brain.” 🗣️ Finally, we were roused by Froebelian expert Dr Stella Louis’ powerful address on trusting children’s voices. “Every form of behaviour is a form of communication.” We’re not stopping there! Next week our Primary Conference takes place in Bradford. At ‘Raising voices, raising literacy’, we’ll be looking at creating confident communicators in the primary classroom and beyond. Are you a teacher or education practitioner? Why not check out our full CPD and conference offer: https://lnkd.in/eG3tp_2Y

Literacy is essential. It gives you the power to shape your future. But if you have a tough start in life, it's harder to access these life-changing skills. Last night we raised an incredible £218,000 at our annual Gala Dinner at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London. The star-studded event was attended by the likes of Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Cressida Cowell, and our master of ceremonies, Alexander Armstrong. The funds raised will go directly to supporting children and adults living in communities with high levels of poverty and low levels of literacy because we believe that literacy is for everyone. No limits, no lost causes, no last chances. Authors, partners and friends gathered to help break the cycle of low literacy and empower more people with the skills they need to get the most out of life. Thanks to their support, we can continue working in communities where as many as one in three people have low levels of literacy, equip people in the criminal justice system with the skills they need to thrive, work with children from their earliest years, and provide teachers, parents and carers with the resources they need. Together, we can change the story.  Special thanks to our platinum sponsors Amazon and WHSmith.

How partnership and research have shaped our latest children's writing initiative in Bradford ⤵️ The Goldsmiths' Company 500 Writers programme is our innovative and evidence-based three-year initiative to improve literacy skills for over 1,000 children in 21 primary schools in Bradford. Research has shown that providing pupils with memorable experiences outside the classroom can motivate them to write. That's why, as part of this programme, pupils will enjoy six fully funded visits to cultural and heritage sites - including theatres, sporting venues, and museums, to inspire their writing, maximising the opportunities afforded by collaboration with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. In 2024, fewer than 3 in 10 children told us that they enjoy writing in their free time, impacting their skills, confidence, and creativity. The crisis in writing enjoyment is most severely impacting children living in disadvantaged communities and we know that there is a direct link between poverty and low levels of literacy. Bradford is the fifth most income-deprived local authority in England with 22% of children living below the poverty line. Furthermore, both primary and secondary school pupils in the city are behind the national average in reading and writing attainment. The Goldsmiths' 500 Writers Programme will address this by mapping progress as children transition from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, a critical juncture for literacy development. We are enormously grateful for the generous support of The Goldsmiths’ Company. Together, we can make a significant impact on the literacy and life stories of children in Bradford. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e2GKCKSH

Only one week to go until our Primary Conference! 'Raising voices, raising literacy' will be a celebration of authentic voices in children’s self-expression. We hope you’ll join us on the day. In the latest article for TeachBrief, we take a look at some teaching tips and resources that you can start using to help foster children’s unique writing voices today. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/emSZUUYd

We're still not over International Women's Day! Just look at this energy - these girls breathed life and passion into literacy. Poet and bestselling author, Sophia Thakur, ran a writing workshop for these students in Peckham with the theme 'everything you need is already within you and each other'. The challenge was to create a rap about being trapped on a remote island, and the results were incredible. Our Women In Leadership programme helps young women and non-binary students to develop the literacy skills, leadership abilities and confidence they need to achieve their potential. Through panel events with women from different industries and working with writers to encourage young women to engage with literacy, we equip students with the skills they need to thrive. Interested in supporting our work? Get in touch with the team at wfw@literacytrust.org.uk

Our research shows that a lack of confidence is one of the greatest barriers to realising aspirations for girls and women.   Our Women in Leadership Programme brings together female role models from different industries who have shared lived experiences and challenges, to help inspire young women and non-binary students to realise their potential and build confidence in their literacy, communication, and leadership skills.   As part of this work, this week we welcomed 200 pupils to a special event at Harris Academy Peckham to celebrate International Women’s Day. The atmosphere and energy in the room was like no other.   With the help of an amazing panel of women, and a brilliant writing workshop with guest author and poet Sophia Thakur, we explored the IWD theme for 2025, ‘Accelerate Action’, and discussed the power of confidence, resilience, and audacity. The day ended in an exciting rap battle which encouraged students to step outside of their comfort zones and confidently share their voice and their words with everyone in the room.   International Women’s Day is a big moment of celebration for us each year, but throughout the rest of the year across the UK we run similar events as part of our Women in Leadership Programme, because we know that women are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects that poor literacy skills and self-belief can have and we want to challenge this by giving young women and girls a safe space to grow.   Thank you to Sophia, our wonderful host Akesha Reid, and our panellists, Anna Colless, Angela Caroo MBE, Nikki Adebiyi and Ayia Rashid, for helping these young women to feel empowered to have goals and to reach them, and to our partner Lancôme for supporting us to create change and shape the futures of girls across the country. Teacher resources, programme details and how professionals and organisations can get involved and support young women👉 https://lnkd.in/erDw5pyG

Only 1 week until our Early Words Matter conference 2025! As we face exciting developments in the early years sector, let’s explore how to harness these opportunities and place children’s voices at the heart of provision. We can’t wait to hear from our speakers: Dan Wuori, Jan Dubiel, Dr Stella Louis, Greg Bottrill 📅 19 March 2025 📍Canary Wharf, London Early years practitioners – grab your ticket now! https://lnkd.in/eDSVc9S5

🎉 Our silent auction is now live! 🎉 Literacy is essential; without it, it's hard to live the life you want. We exist to empower children, young people and adults with the literacy skills they need to get the most out of life. At the National Literacy Trust, we believe that literacy empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and drives social mobility. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has the literacy skills they need to succeed. Our silent auction is a fantastic opportunity for you to support our mission. From original artworks by children's illustrators, to family festival tickets, or a night on the West End, 100% of the proceeds go directly to our work so we can continue making a difference where it is needed most. Explore the prize lots and place your bids - you have until Thursday 20 March! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/egmKz9xg