Reigniting A Love Of Books
Emdad Rahman
Nearly 200 children from Mulberry Canon Barnett Primary School and William Davis Primary School have rediscovered the magic of books this July, thanks to lively storytelling sessions designed to spark a lifelong love of reading. The initiative comes at a crucial time, as new research from the National Literacy Trust reveals only one in three (32.7%) children and young adults aged 8–18 read for pleasure.
The enjoyment of books has reached its lowest level recorded in two decades, dropping by 1.9% in the past year.* Reading supports children’s literacy skills and their ability to learn, as well as their wellbeing, empathy and confidence. Yet this decline highlights the growing challenge in encouraging children to engage with reading – particularly among boys and secondary school pupils.
The events were organised and hosted by Broadgate, as part of British Land and the National Literacy Trust’s Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative aimed at encouraging children to read outside of the classroom.
Children aged 5–11 from Mulberry Canon Primary School and William Davis Primary School enjoyed a performance by professional storyteller Wendy Shearer and took part in a range of activities – including a nature session led by the landscaping team, a hands-on recycling workshop and an interactive session on space law with international law firm Mayer Brown. Each child was also given a free book of their choice – the third book this year gifted as part of the wider programme.
2025 marks the 14th year of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, and since the programme launched at Broadgate, it has supported more than 2,200 school children and seen nearly 6,800 books donated across Tower Hamlets.
The Young Readers Programme is designed to support children in underprivileged areas, by giving them better access to books and nurturing vital literacy skills.
With reading for enjoyment at a 20-year low, this support has never been more important. The National Literacy Trust’s research shows that children who enjoy reading are more likely to excel in school and beyond. If every child in the UK read for pleasure every day, it could lead to more than a million more young people reaching key academic milestones by age 16, boosting lifetime earnings and contributing an estimated £4.6 billion to the UK economy each year. **
Nicola Roberts, Senior Social Impact Manager at Broadgate, said: “We know that early literacy plays a vital role in shaping children’s confidence, academic success and long-term potential – and we’re proud to champion that through our ongoing support of the Young Readers Programme.
“At Broadgate, we’ve developed longstanding relationships with schools and community groups in Tower Hamlets, and this initiative is one of the many ways we’re supporting local children and helping to build stronger, more connected communities.
“From providing access to books and welcoming young people onto our campus to helping them engage with our customers and colleagues, we’re committed to showcasing the opportunities on their doorstep and supporting their journey beyond the classroom.
“With reading for enjoyment at a 20-year low, this work feels more important than ever – and shows what’s possible when businesses, schools and charities come together with a shared goal.”
Martin Galway, Head of School Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “We are experiencing the lowest reading for enjoyment levels in a generation, with profound consequences for children and young people’s long-term literacy, wellbeing, and life chances.
“But with the Young Readers programme, we are changing that story. We are continuing our partnership with British Land to make sure children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to meet authors, to experience enchanting story-telling events, and to choose books that speak to their interests and passions. Our goal is to help children find a joy in reading that will last them a lifetime, which in turn will empower them with the literacy skills they need to succeed.”
As part of its ongoing partnership with National Literacy Trust, British Land is proud to run the ‘Words for Work’ initiative for a third year. This equips students aged 14-16 with essential communication and employability skills, offering insights into the world of work and helping raise aspirations. The programme includes interactive workshops, mock interviews, and job shadowing experience for students. This year a total of 38 students from Mulberry School for Girls participated in career workshops run by volunteers from Broadgate.
