Literacy Changes Lives 2014: A new perspective on health, employment and crime

Literacy Changes Lives 2014 explores the link between literacy and economic instability. The report highlights the relationship that poor literacy has with a range of health inequalities, employment outcomes and criminal offending. 

Since 2008, the financial crisis has had a profound social and economic impact on the UK’s most vulnerable communities. Using Literacy Changes Lives (2008) as a starting point, this report goes further to uncover the impact of poor literacy on the individual, society and the UK. 

The report was written by the National Literacy Trust and commissioned by Save the Children.

The research for this report has informed the publication ‘How reading can help children escape poverty’ produced by the Read On. Get On. coalition. The Read On. Get On. campaign brings together teachers and other professionals, charities, businesses, publishers and local communities to argue for the historic goal of all children reading well by the age of 11 by 2025.