Why Bookmark Reading Charity exists
Imagine a world without words
It’s Difficult isn't it?
7.1 million adults in England struggle to read and face challenges like these every day – at home, on the move, in the workplace, and with their friends and families.
We want to stop this trend. We want every child to read.
The current situation
MORE THAN 1 in 4 children in England are unable to read well when they leave primary school*
Children unable to read well face difficulties with many subjects at school.
These children struggle for the rest of SCHOOL and beyond, which has a devastating impact on their life chances.
People with poor literacy are more likely to be unemployed or in lower skilled jobs.
43% of adults in England don’t have the literacy skills they need to understand everyday health information.
Life expectancy is vastly reduced for those born in communities with the most serious literacy challenges.
Low literacy costs the UK economy £81 billion every year**
46% of prisoners are unable to read to the expected level of an 11 year old
FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED US, WE’RE CHANGING THEIR STORY.
Our story
Bookmark was started in 2018 with a simple vision: we want every child to read.
Our Chair and Founder, Sharon Pindar, was inspired by her own experiences to set up the charity. You can find out more about the story behind Bookmark by watching our short film.