Best-selling author and dedicated ambassador of our work, Adele Parks shares her thoughts on our work in Middlesbrough. She reflects on why she has chosen to support our work to equip and empower children in the region with the literacy skills they need to thrive.
The National Literacy Trust has been working in communities in Middlesbrough for over a decade to inspire a lifelong love of reading in local children. As a Teessider myself, I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust in my hometown area. Frankly, it’s an area of serious disadvantage where far too many people are born into generational limitations. Middlesbrough is the 5th most deprived local authority area in England, with 40% of the town’s children living in ‘absolute poverty’. That is heart wrenching.
I understand that when someone is struggling to feed their family, it may not even occur to them to consider their child’s access to books, however, I believe it is essential. We know from our research that children who read in their free time feel happier, more relaxed and have better outcomes later in life. That’s what every parent wants for their child. Reading is the way to break the poverty trap and access better opportunities.
I want to see all children given equal choices and chances through reading.
With only 35% of children in the Northeast reporting that they enjoy reading in their free time, this means that 2 in 3 children are missing out on these benefits.
However, the brilliant news is things can change. Research shows an increase in reading for pleasure in hub areas like Middlesbrough, where the National Literacy Trust has been working for over a decade. In 2024, in the high-priority schools where the charity works most intensively, including in parts of Middlesbrough, 2 in 5 (41.8%) said that they enjoy reading in their spare time, compared to the average across England (34.2%). Just think about all those children climbing out of the poverty trap, one book at a time.
The National Literacy Trust in Middlesbrough are bucking the trend
It is brilliant to be able to shout about the incredibly important work being done in the region through the National Literacy Trust who are endeavouring – and succeeding – in bucking the trend that dictates people who are born disadvantaged, stay that way. I’ve personally seen children and families discover the magic of stories and develop the skills they need to read confidently through the many vital National Literacy Trust programmes in nurseries, schools and even in a neonatal unit.
I was deeply moved to meet parents, who in their most desperate time, found comfort in books. Research shows that babies that are read to respond and develop better than those who don’t. I spoke with a mum who said it also comforted her to have the books donated by the National Literacy Trust to read to her incredibly sick baby, as reading served as a substitute for the usual bonding of cuddling and feeding, neither were possible. That mum’s story ended happily as she got the opportunity to take her baby home and continue a lifelong love of reading together.
Actually, that isn’t the end of that story. It’s the beginning. So many more children get better beginnings through the National Literacy Trust’s work in communities.
Adele Parks was born and bred in north-east England in Eaglescliffe, and has since become a number one bestselling author with 24 novels under her belt.
Adele has worked with us for over 10 years, committed to our work in Middlesbrough and is one of our dedicated ambassadors.
We'd love to hear from you if you're in Middlesbrough
Find out how you can make a difference in your area - whether you're working in a school already, interesting in volunteering or would like to know how your organisation can partner with us. Email Middlesbrough@literacytrust.org.uk
Learn more about our strategy
As Adele has shared, at the National Literacy Trust, we make change by standing side by side with communities to tackle literacy inequality. You can watch a short video between Jonathan Douglas CBE, CEO at the National Literacy Trust discusses our approach.