In October 2024, we set out to create our biggest mass reading moment yet and help children, young people, and adults around the country feel the wellbeing benefits of reading for pleasure. We called on schools, organisations, and families at home to pick up a book and take 10 minutes to read; over 100,000 people around the country answered the call.
In schools and nurseries
80,000 children from over 800 nurseries, primary and secondary schools joined our #Take10ToRead virtual author events. Bestselling authors A. F. Steadman, Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, and Natalie Denny created three inspiring virtual sessions bringing the joy of reading to children into the classroom.
Organisations supporting their staff
Meanwhile, over 200 organisations took the opportunity to share the benefits of reading with their employees. From community centres to large multinational corporations, companies around the UK encouraged their teams to take a 10-minute break and pick up a book.
Employees from CHEP, a logistics company based in Sandwell, said:
“The Take 10 to Read event was a good idea. Even 10 minutes off from our work time to sit down and relax has had a positive impact on our inner focus and it provided a better understanding of what a simple act can do to our mental health in general.”
Book gifting in hospitals
This year, we teamed up with Read for Good, the reading for pleasure charity whose hospital programme provides brand-new books and storyteller visits to brighten the days of children in the UK’s major children’s hospitals. In Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, more than a thousand books were given to families, providing inspiration for reading with their children at home.
A paediatric pre-operative nurse at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital said:
“This is perfect for our pre-op team! Our children are often scared, and this [reading] will be a welcome distraction.”
It doesn't stop here...
While World Mental Health Day presents the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of reading on our mental wellbeing, these benefits can be felt year-round. We work in communities around the UK throughout the year to foster a love of reading in children and families to ensure that everyone is able to develop the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.
You can read more about our #GrowaGenerationOfReaders campaign here.