We were live on BBC Breakfast!

On Saturday 26^th April, we were thrilled to join Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt on BBC Breakfast, talking about the crucial role of reading for pleasure – especially in light of the worrying decline in adult attention spans and reading habits in the UK. 

Research from the National Literacy Trust, revealed that only one in three children and young people, aged 8 to 18, said that they enjoyed reading in their free time – the lowest level recorded since the survey began in 2005. These statistics underscore a national crisis in children’s reading habits, and our appearance on BBC Breakfast aimed to shed light on this issue. 

As one of the UK’s most-watched morning programmes, it was more than just an exciting opportunity for us. It was a powerful opportunity to bring a pressing issue into millions of homes: the decline in reading for pleasure and the wider implications for individuals and society. 

What we talked about on BBC Breakfast

During this segment, Laura Burke, our Head of Fundraising, discussed the decline in reading for pleasure and the knock-on effect this has on younger generations. 

Laura spoke about the importance of getting children excited about reading, sharing a key insight that, ​“children who enjoy reading are four times more likely to read at the expected standard”. This powerful statistic underscores the genuine need to foster a love for books. 

The conversation also explored how digital distractions and shrinking attention spans play a huge part in fragmenting our attention and eroding the habit of deep, immersive reading. 

As Naga highlighted, ​“lots of adults struggle to focus [on reading]”, which can impact how a child perceives reading. If reading is seen as a chore rather than for enjoyment, it risks becoming something children avoid altogether. 

In response, Laura spoke about the impact of our One-to-one Reading Programme, which offers children dedicated reading time, without distractions, with a trained volunteer. ​“We have volunteers that read with children and we really try and make sure that they carve out that 30 minutes where there’s no distractions”. 

These sessions not only boost literacy skills, but also create a calm, focused environment – essential for encouraging children to enjoy reading. 

Access to diverse and inclusive reading materials emerged as another major theme. Laura stressed that one of the most effective ways to encourage children to read is if books are relatable and reflective of their own lives, interests and identities. 

She said, ​“if there’s a book that you’re not enjoying, don’t take a year to finish it. Put it down and pick up something else you like reading”. Continuing, ​“it’s about finding what you love and making sure you get that support”. This means that when children feel like books are for them, they’re far more likely to engage, stick with reading and grow in confidence. 

The segment also touched on the importance of reading physical books, as a way for children to fully immerse themselves in the narrative. Laura described this as an opportunity for children to ​“go on that hero’s journey from start to finish”, reinforcing the emotional and imaginative benefits of long-form reading. 

However, the conversation also acknowledged that e‑books and digital formats can also offer important benefits – particularly in terms of accessibility and variety. For many children, digital reading can open up a world of new genres, formats and stories, making it easier to explore what they enjoy and discover the type of books that ignite their love of reading. 

At the heart of our vision is a belief that reading for pleasure should be accessible to every child. We are committed to addressing the decline in reading for pleasure; from one-to-one reading support and access to books, to creating engaging reading spaces and a buzz around reading, our programmes provide the support needed for children, teachers and families to foster a lifelong love of reading.