An Isle of Wight councillor has joined forces with literacy leaders and top authors at 10 Downing Street to help launch a major new campaign to get Britain reading again.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, the Local Government Association’s Library Champion, travelled to London last week to represent local government at the official launch of the National Year of Reading 2026.
She joined a host of literary champions, including How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, for the special event at Number 10.
The campaign aims to tackle declining reading habits by encouraging people of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading for pleasure. Recent figures show that only one in three children continue to read for pleasure once they leave primary school, with fewer parents reading to their children at home.
Councillor Jones-Evans said:
“It was a real honour to represent the Isle of Wight and local councils at such an inspiring event. Reading for pleasure brings so many benefits — from improving mental wellbeing to boosting education and life outcomes. It’s something we should all be championing.”
Also at the event were representatives from The Reading Agency, the organisation behind the popular Summer Reading Challenge, which helps keep thousands of children reading through the school holidays — including on the Isle of Wight.
The National Year of Reading will work with schools, libraries and communities across the UK to make reading more accessible and enjoyable. Islanders are being urged to get involved by joining local libraries, taking part in reading challenges or simply sharing a good book.
Councillor Jones-Evans added:
“Everyone there shared a belief that reading can change lives — and not just for children. Whether it’s a novel, comic book or bedtime story, reading opens doors and sparks imagination.”
Town, parish and community councils are also being encouraged to consider how they can play a part in supporting the campaign locally.
More information about the National Year of Reading 2026 can be found at www.nationalyearofreading.org.uk.
Here is a simple suggestion concentrate on the the basics of reading .arithmetic and writing and far less time on teaching the evils of past colonial misdeeds, or transgender issues and similar woke agenda’s.
She’s at it again. More attention on her. Pose, pose, pose. Doing sod all.
My kids learnt to read before they started school it’s up to the lazy parents, these days every body expects other people to do their work