Government kicks off National Year of Reading campaign

The government and the National Literacy Trust have kicked off the National Year of Reading, with a campaign called ‘Go All In’.

The campaign aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure. Reading rates among young people has dropped to its lowest level since 2005, with just one in three 8- to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their spare time. Teenage boys are affected the most – in 2025, just 25% of boys aged 8-18 said they enjoy reading, compared to 39% of girls.  

The campaign aims to address this challenge by bringing together everyone from families and schools, to libraries, businesses and ambassadors to connect people of all ages with the benefits of reading for pleasure. 

The campaign is calling on everyone to make time to Go All In and read about the everyday things they love in whatever way that works for them, whether reading a novel, an e-reader, a comic, or an online blog.   

Teachers will be able to access resources to help support them in the mission to encourage children to discover the joy of reading for pleasure.

Women’s Super League star Leah Williamson, authors Cressida Cowell, George the Poet, Michael Morpurgo and Julia Donaldson, as well as social media star Jack Edwards alongside Richard Osman and Joe Wicks are just some of the ambassadors who will use their voices and platforms to encourage the nation to get reading.   

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson formally launched the campaign. She said: "Some of my happiest childhood memories are of reading with my grandad, getting lost in The Chronicles of Narnia together.  I want every child to feel that same joy, whether their passion is football, fantasy, or physics."

"Reading unlocks so much of children’s education, which is why reversing the decline in reading for pleasure must become a national mission.

"Through the National Year of Reading and our Plan for Change we are making sure every child and young person has access to a wide range of books, alongside supporting families to make space for shared reading to give children the best start in life." 

From national moments to local reading activities, the year will offer events and celebrations reaching into every corner of society. Highlights include national storytelling week, creative writing competitions, parent and baby community sessions, and ‘In conversation’ events with bestselling authors like Celia Rees, with more to be announced throughout the year. 

The campaign is spotlighting the vital role volunteers play in supporting literacy projects, by recruiting 100,000 new volunteers to join the national effort and creating more opportunities for people to join in, whether organising a book event in for the local community or helping adults to read for the first time. 

Materials and training will be made available to encourage everyone across the nation to ‘Go All In’ including booksellers, the criminal justice sector, libraries, schools and early years settings.