Adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction
Reading Ahead
What is Reading Ahead?
Reading Ahead builds reading confidence, skills and encourages everyone to read more. Run in prisons, public libraries, colleges, adult community learning settings and workplaces, Reading Ahead engages participants in the joy of reading, often for the first time, which in turn helps them to improve their language and literacy skills.
Participants choose six reads: books, magazines, recipes, letters – anything! After completing each read, they share their thoughts on what they’ve read by filling out a review in their personal Reading Ahead Reading Diary and work towards receiving a certificate of achievement. Readers can use our reading database to search for material at the right reading level and coordinators can access a hub of supporting guidance, learning resources and promotional materials on our Resources database.
Who is it for?
Reading Ahead is aimed at young people and adults who are less confident readers and those who want to improve their literacy and language skills or get back into reading. It is run in prisons, public libraries, colleges, adult community learning centres and workplaces across the UK.
For more information on how to take part, the programme resources, costs and incentives, please click the below link to ‘get involved’.
Our Research
11,275 young people and adults were reached through Reading Ahead in 2021/22.
Reading for pleasure enhances empathy and the ability to understand others’ identities
Resources
Reading Power: Communications Toolkit
Support our fundraising campaign focused on improving adult reading confidence across the UK.
READING AHEAD 2024-25 PROGRAMME GUIDANCE
FOR COORDINATORS ONLY - Supporting guidance on how to deliver Reading Ahead within your organisation.
READING AHEAD 2024-25 Welcome Letter
FOR COORDINATORS ONLY - Included with all print pack orders.
READING AHEAD 2024-25 Participant Sign-Up Form (also included in print pack orders)
FOR COORDINATORS ONLY - Please print, photocopy and distribute with your Reading Ahead 2024-25 participants. This form allows organisations to track participants and will support…
Latest News
The State of the Nation’s Adult Reading: 2024 Report
Half of all adults in the UK don’t read regularly for pleasure, and 1 in 6 – that’s 8.5 million…
The Reading Agency announces its drive to tackle the UK adult literacy crisis
With 1 in 6 UK adults struggling with reading, The Reading Agency is determined to tackle the national adult literacy crisis which limits life chances and access to work and health services
Join our mailing list
Get our newsletters to stay up to date with programme news, resources, news and more.
