Take 10

What is Take 10?

The Take 10 Challenge encourages people to read for just 10 minutes a day to improve their wellbeing and support their literacy. First developed by the Read Manchester literacy campaign, Take 10 now inspires children, families, and organisations nationally.

To inspire people to take up and continue the challenge, the National Literacy Trust hold national Take 10 moments where thousands of people across the UK drop everything and read together for 10 minutes.

Our next Take 10 moment takes place on Friday 8 October 2021 and is proudly supported by Wesleyan.

It's so easy to get involved:

Sign up

• Schools and families are invited to our Take 10 author events with Tom Percival or Louisa Reid on the morning of 8 October: schools sign up here!
• Partners, buinesses and organisations: let us know you're getting involved here!

Spread the word

Download our poster-flyers and social media cards to help spread the word around your school, organisation, and beyond.

• Download poster-flyer for schools
• Download poster-flyer for organisations
• Download social media cards and email banner

Take 10 at 10am on Friday 8 October!

Grab your favourite book then stop what you're doing and read for 10 minutes at 10am!

Tom Percival and Louisa Reid will lead schools in the Take 10 at our author events.

Share your Take 10

Take a picture of your Take 10 to share on social media using #Take10ToRead and tagging the National Literacy Trust.

Find more assets, ideas and resources below on encouraging the Take 10 Challenge in your school or workplace.

Our Take 10 moment on Friday 8 October takes place just before World Mental Health Day 2021 on Sunday 10 October - the perfect time to reflect on how we are all feeling and what we can do to improve our wellbeing and that of the children and people around us.

Our research shows 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!

Reading every day can help everyone - children, young people and adults - to:

• Relax, unwind and boost their mood
• Escape from the pressures of life and reduce their stress levels
• Improve your memory and concentration

Schools

Support your pupils and students to Take 10 every day, inspiring them to keep reading at school and at home.

Check out some of our ideas and top tips:

• Create Take 10 book recommendations display boards that pupils can update themselves
• Run daily Take 10 moments during break, lunch or tutor period
• Younger classes might benefit from using reading reward charts
• Set up mini libraries or borrow boxes in spots around school or in classrooms
• Set up pupil-led reading groups
• Encourage readers to try fiction, non-fiction, comics, audiobooks, magazines and articles, to find out what they love to read

We’re encouraging businesses and organisations to join schools and families across the UK as we drop everything and read together for 10 minutes at 10am on Friday 8 October.

It's easy to take part!

1. Fill in the form here to let us know you're taking part
2. Send an email or calendar invite to your colleagues/employees to get them involved in your workplace or on a video call - download our poster-flyer and social media cards to help get the word out
3. Grab your favourite books and get reading for 10 minutes at 10am on Friday 8 October!
4. Take a picture of your team’s Take 10 moment and share on social media using #Take10ToRead and tag the National Literacy Trust

Encourage reading in your workplace

• Set up a book group - groups could be themed to different genres such as crime, romance, literary fiction, sci-fi or fantasy
• Organise regular book swaps
• Set up an office library space/shelf
• Create a book recommendations noticeboard
• Add a ‘currently reading’ line to your email signatures
• Set up lunch time reading areas