Books Unlocked
We work with the Booker Prize Foundation and National Prison Radio to engage prisoners and increase their enjoyment and frequency of reading through our Books Unlocked programme.
16.4% of adults in England, or 7.1 million people, can be described as having 'very poor literacy skills.' They can understand short straightforward texts on familiar topics accurately and independently, and obtain information from everyday sources, but reading information from unfamiliar sources, or on unfamiliar topics, could cause problems. This is also known as being functionally illiterate.
Many adults are reluctant to admit to their literacy difficulties and ask for help. One of the most important aspects of supporting adults with low literacy levels is to increase their self-esteem and persuade them of the benefits of improving their reading and writing.
Adults with poor literacy skills will be locked out of the job market and, as a parent, they won’t be able to support their child’s learning. Find out more.
These are the latest available statistics for adult literacy levels in England (2012), Scotland (2009), Wales (2010) and Northern Ireland (2012). Each nation has a different definition of basic literacy skills, so country comparisons are not possible.
1 in 6 (16.4% / 7.1 million people) adults in England have very poor literacy skills.
1 in 4 (26.7% / 931,000 people) adults in Scotland experience challenges due to their lack of literacy skills.
1 in 8 (12% / 216,000 people) adults in Wales lack basic literacy skills.
1 in 5 (17.9% / 256,000 people) adults in Northern Ireland have very poor literacy skills.
We work with the Booker Prize Foundation and National Prison Radio to engage prisoners and increase their enjoyment and frequency of reading through our Books Unlocked programme.