Connecting Stories
Our Connecting Stories campaign is an Arts Council England-funded project to address the literacy attainment gap across 14 Hub areas and increase children and young people’s access to literary experiences and books in communities most in need of support. The campaign launched in December 2020 has reached more than 200,000 individuals. It has been supported by 43 publishers and 95 authors and creatives, including celebrated children’s writers Cressida Cowell, Matt Haig and Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho.
Connecting Stories provides a programme of exciting events: from virtual author visits, creative writing competitions, book donations, and a variety of activities for families to enjoy. Using community-devised approaches, Connecting Stories is making deep connections with communities where engagement with reading for pleasure is traditionally low and changing this.
Embedding literacy in culture
Discover how Arts Council England’s Let’s Create strategy shapes our work in Bradford
Connecting Stories Events
Children and young people from across the UK are invited to join us for FREE online author events as part of our Connecting Stories series.
Discover upcoming events and accompanying resources...
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Join us on Wednesday 25 June for a fascinating author event exploring Matt's newly released verse novel sequel.Learn more about The First Year with Matt Goodfellow: a transition event for year 6 (ages 10-11 years).
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Join our free online workshop for pupils aged 14+ with Joseph Coelho.Learn more about Poetry writing and Greek myths with Joseph Coelho.
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Classroom poetry writing activities inspired by Yoto Carnegie Medal winning title, The Boy Lost In The Maze by Joseph Coelho, for students aged 14 to 18 (KS4 - KS5).Learn more about The Boy Lost in the Maze: poetry writing resources for students aged 14 to 18.
#Take10ToRead
The Take 10 Challenge encourages everyone to read for 10 minutes every day to improve their wellbeing and support their literacy skills.Our research has shown us that reading can be an effective way of helping people take care of their mental health and wellbeing – and it only takes 10 minutes a day to see the benefits!
National Storytelling Week
National Storytelling Week (30 January - 5 February) is an opportunity for us to celebrate the richness of people’s stories, experiences and different cultures and to raise awareness of the breadth of languages across our Hub areas. Discover free events, teacher guides and activities to enjoy storytelling!
Discover more about our work in the regions
Connecting Stories events, campaigns and activity takes place in 14 of our regional hubs from Bradford to the Black Country and Stoke-on-Trent to Swindon. Explore Connecting Stories in these hubs as well as discovering all our activity around the country.