£81 billion a year in lost earnings and welfare spending due to low levels of literacy.
Everything changes when you read.
We’re a UK charity with a mission to empower people of all ages to read.
Help change lives through reading
Reading for pleasure and empowerment makes us more aware and informed. It helps us grow our imaginations. It makes us more empathetic and understanding of other people and cultures. It supports our health and wellbeing. It increases our ability to learn new skills. It helps us to communicate our ideas more effectively. It opens doors. It brings joy.
Please donate to support our work.
Our Research
Research and evidence is central to helping us achieve our mission. We speak to people of all ages across the UK to understand how and why they read, the successes and challenges they face and how our work can make a real difference.
1 in 4 children don’t reach the expected level of reading by the age of 11
Featured booklist: Big Sporting Read
Resources for Librarians
Kirsten Barrett's Books of Belonging
For this year’s Teachers’ Reading Challenge we are exploring ‘Diverse Realities’ and have asked expert educators to give us their recommendations on topics within that…
Reading Friends Participation Monitoring Form
The new form for October 2024-October 2025. We encourage monthly submission of the simplified form, but there are two important dates highlighted (Jan 2025 and…
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How To Be A Revolutionary by Lucy Ann Unwin - Teaching Resources
*Find Your Passion. Build A Team. Change The World.* A General Election is looming. There’s a buzz and a tension and an exciting thrill in…
First Big Book of How by Sally Symes and Saranne Taylor - Activity Sheet
*How do scientists see into space? How do polar bears keep warm? How do keys open locks? How do fireworks explode?* Featuring more than 150…
Latest News
Vacancy: Research and Evaluation Officer
At The Reading Agency, we have a reputation of robust and insightful research and we are looking for a Research…
The Reading Agency Reveals Authors for 2025 Quick Reads
The Reading Agency has announced its exciting line up of Quick Reads authors for 2025. They are Leila Aboulela, Cathy…
The Big Sporting Read – People’s Choice
With the summer of sport coming to a close we asked you to tell us your Big Sporting Reads and moments of this summer.
Library Facts
Explore key facts about libraries, including the numbers of libraries, the demographics of library users and the outcomes of using libraries.
Reading Facts
We want to create a world where everyone is reading their way to a better life. Explore UK-wide reading statistics and facts.
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