More than 6,500 children from across the capital have taken part in storytelling sessions designed to inspire a love of reading.
The year’s 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.
Children from schools in Bethnal Green, Camden and Paddington have taken part in a series of literacy-focused sessions as part of the Young Reader’s Programme. The scheme is an award-winning initiative sponsored by landlord British Land and run-in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.
2025 marks the fourteenth year of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Since the programme launched at its campuses across London – including Broadgate, Paddington Central, and Regent’s Place, it has supported more than 6,500 school children and seen close to 20,000 books donated across London.
Schools involved in this year’s programme include Mulberry Canon Barnett Primary School, St Augustine’s Primary School and Netley Primary School, with pupils taking part in a range of activities including interactive story telling sessions and creative writing workshops. Each child was also given a book of their choice to take home for free, the third book this year gifted as part of the wider programme.
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. **
Matthew Webster, Head of Sustainability at British Land said: “Our decade-long partnership with the National Literacy Trust is a proven model of how targeted investment in early literacy can strengthen communities and businesses. As a long-term investor, we focus on creating places that deliver measurable value – socially and economically. Our research on the Power of Reading shows that if all children in the UK read for pleasure almost daily, 1.1 million more children could achieve better GCSEs. Through initiatives like the Young Readers Programme, we’re connecting children with opportunities on their doorstep, supporting our customers’ talent needs by building skills for the future, and reinforcing the resilience of the places we invest in.” *
