What is the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge?
The award-winning Vision for Literacy Business Pledge provides a framework for business action to help close the literacy gap between disadvantaged young people and their more affluent peers.
The Pledge was established by the National Literacy Forum in 2015, with the support of KPMG UK. We are now in our ninth year and, so far, 105 businesses have signed up and are committed to taking action.
Our Pledge signatories engage their employees in a number of ways. Some focus their efforts on raising literacy levels in their communities by gifting books to children who may not have any at home. Others contribute to national campaigns such as Libraries for Primaries, or raise money to support the National Literacy Trust's work in disadvantaged communities. The National Literacy Trust provides ongoing practical support to those who sign up for the Pledge.
The Vision for Literacy Business Pledge in 2024
This year, the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge is focussed on the early years, the economic importance of raising literacy levels (from early years onwards), and the role of the business community to support this.
The UK is facing a growing literacy challenge, following the impact of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the proliferation of technology on children’s literacy and learning. This challenge is being most keenly felt in communities where connections between deprivation, low literacy skills and long-term unemployment are strongest.
Recent research from Pro Bono Economics, commissioned by KPMG UK in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, estimates the cost of England’s early years literacy skills gap to be £830 million a year in lost earnings and increased costs to the government from higher spending on education and welfare, as well as lower tax revenue.
Recognising the substantial societal and economic impacts of the UK’s literacy challenge, the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge brings the business community together with charities, schools and the government to prioritise literacy and improve the literacy skills of children and young people who need it most.
How can I get involved?
By signing up for the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge, your business can help to ensure that every child has the literacy skills they need for life, irrespective of their background.
If you'd like to find out more, please get in touch at pledge@literacytrust.org.uk.