From First Words to First Drafts
Every great writer begins with a single moment—a book that sparks wonder, a teacher who believes in them, a space where their voice feels safe to emerge.
But right now, millions of children are missing that moment. Not because they lack talent, but because they lack opportunity.
The crisis we face
- Only 1 in 3 children enjoyed reading in 2025
- Fewer than 1 in 5 read daily
- Just 1 in 4 enjoy writing
These are the lowest levels in two decades. The pipeline from literacy to literature is breaking.
Our response: A new partnership
The History Makers Fund brings together two organisations working at different, crucial stages of the writer's journey:
The National Literacy Trust reaches 1.4 million children and young people, working where literacy and poverty collide. Through school libraries, book gifting, teacher training, and youth writing programmes, the National Literacy Trust builds the foundation every writer needs.
The Malcolm Bradbury Trust supports emerging writers through scholarships, bursaries, and residencies. Rooted in the world-leading UEA creative writing programme founded by Malcolm Bradbury and Angus Wilson, the Malcolm Bradbury Trust ensures that talent—especially from under-represented communities—has the support to flourish.
Together, we create a complete pathway: from first words to first drafts, from learning to read to finding your voice as a writer.
[Young Writers] opened up a new door for me to explore, finding new writing techniques, how to grab the [reader’s] attention, how to structure a story and overall, how to add the finishing touches.
Year 7 Pupil who took part in our Young Writers Programme
DonateWhat your gift will power
Literacy to Learn with National Literacy Trust
- School library transformations with teacher training
- Book gifting and family reading programmes
- Youth writing and oracy campaigns
- Long-term literacy hubs in disadvantaged communities
Literature to Thrive with Malcolm Bradbury Trust
- Postgraduate scholarships and undergraduate bursaries
- Writer residencies and development opportunities
- Micro-grants through partners including the National Centre for Writing
- Festival and community literature outreach
All programmes prioritise voices from under-represented backgrounds.
The impact of your support
At £1,000 annually, you become a Founder, supporting book gifting and family reading while contributing to writer micro-grants.
At £2,500 annually, you join as a Patron, helping to seed a school library transformation and funding an Malcolm Bradbury Trust micro-grant.
At £5,000 annually, you become a Principal, underwriting a primary school library while contributing to a postgraduate bursary.
At £10,000 annually, you provide Leadership, funding a complete school reading environment or one full Malcolm Bradbury Trust bursary, plus community outreach.
DonateRecognition and engagement
As a Founding Member, you'll receive:
- Annual impact reports showing exactly how your gift is changing lives
- Invitations to intimate salons with acclaimed authors
- Opportunities to visit programmes and meet the young people you're supporting
- Recognition (optional) in our Founders' materials
Be someone's turning point
Right now, there's a child sitting in a classroom without books, wondering if stories are meant for people like them.
There's a teenager with a head full of words but no belief that anyone wants to hear them.
There's a brilliant young writer who's about to give up because they can't afford to continue.
The gap between a child who struggles to read and a confident young writer isn't as wide as you think. It's a library. It's a trained teacher. It's a bursary. It's you, deciding that the next generation of voices matters.
50 years ago, Malcolm Bradbury was changing lives, one writer at a time. Today, we have the chance to do the same—at scale, with the full pathway in place.
The next great British novelist is out there right now. They might be seven years old, just learning to love reading. They might be 17, writing in secret. They might be 27, one bursary away from their breakthrough.
Help us find them. Help us support them. Help us make sure that talent, not circumstance, determines whose stories we get to read.
DonateHow it works
Your donation is received by the National Literacy Trust to a restricted fund called "The History Makers Fund", the National Literacy Trust then grants 50% to the Malcolm Bradbury Trust under a signed memorandum of understanding.
A joint steering group allocates the funding and reviews progress. Both organisations bring rigorous evaluation to track outcomes and ensure maximum impact.
Your gift is Gift Aid eligible, and we can accommodate direct debit, donor-advised funds, and matched giving.
Please note: If you choose to add Gift Aid, the processing charity—the National Literacy Trust—will be responsible for claiming it and will receive the Gift Aid funds directly.
GDPR Data Sharing Declaration
By providing your personal information, you acknowledge and consent that your data will be shared with and processed by both the National Literacy Trust and Malcolm Bradbury Trust. Each organization will act as a separate data controller and will process your information in accordance with their respective privacy policies and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Your data will be used solely for the purposes outlined at the time of collection, and you have the right to access, rectify, or request deletion of your data at any time. You may also withdraw your consent by contacting either charity directly.