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Take 10 in your organisations and communities

woman reading

About the Take 10 to read campaign

#Take10toRead is our campaign to increase reading for pleasure by promoting the mental wellbeing benefits of reading. Reading is a great way to relax, boost your mood and escape the pressures of daily life.

That’s why, each year on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, we encourage everyone to take 10 minutes to read, to feel the mental health and wellbeing benefits of reading. We work with organisations, communities and schools to spread the joy of reading far and wide.

Get involved

This year we are asking organisations to pledge their support for Take 10 to Read and commit to building a reading culture at work and in the community.

Our Take 10 to Read partners will receive:

  • Advice and tips on how to mark Take 10 in your organisation, e.g. through organising a virtual reading moment or encouraging staff to share book recommendations
  • Graphics and copy to share on your social media channels and to employees through staff newsletters
  • More information on Take 10, the benefits of reading for pleasure and ideas for creating a reading culture in your organisation

Our partner pledge will be launching soon. Check back here in the coming weeks to sign up and start planning how you will mark #Take10toRead in your organisation.

The added difference you will make

We know that children are more likely to enjoy reading if they see adults they care about reading too. This matters, because children who regularly read for pleasure do better at school and are happier. Research has also shown that reading for pleasure is more important for children’s cognitive development between ages 10 and 16 than their parents’ level of education, so it’s a critical factor in social mobility.

So, encouraging your workforce to #Take10ToRead will not only yield positive mental health benefits for your employees but will also have a knock-on effect on the reading enjoyment of the children in their lives, which will in turn improve the next generation’s life chances.

Additional resources