Thank you for being a Chapter One volunteer! You're already making a real difference in children's lives, and now there's an exciting opportunity to ‘go all in’ and amplify that impact.

2026 is the National Year of Reading – a government-backed campaign to reverse the alarming decline in reading for pleasure across the UK. As a Chapter One volunteer, you're already a 'reading influencer' helping children who need it most. Now we need your help to inspire others to join you.

This toolkit gives you everything you need to share your Chapter One experience and inspire others to join the reading revolution during the National Year of Reading 2026.

Why the National Year of Reading matters

The statistics are stark:

• Reading is slipping from daily life. Only 1 in 3 children aged 8-18 say they enjoy reading – the lowest in 20 years

• 1 in 5 children don't have any books at home

• Nearly a third of children under 7 don't regularly read with different people in their lives

• Reading for pleasure is more directly correlated with educational success than even parental income

• Children who enjoy reading do it more, and as a result are happier, healthier and higher attaining

• Reading for pleasure strengthens reading skills and confidence, curiosity and the ability to navigate the world. It also helps people feel more connected to their interests and to one another.

But here's the thing – it truly 'takes a village' to raise a reader. Research from BookTrust shows that the more reading influencers a child has, the more likely they are to become keen independent readers.*

The National Year of Reading aims to inspire thousands of community reading champions and build a culture where reading is for everyone, everywhere. And that's exactly what we're doing at Chapter One.

Chapter One's bold commitment

We're not just supporting the National Year of Reading campaign – we're mobilising the business community to step up through our commitment to recruit an additional 1,000 reading volunteers in 2026.

How will you help us meet the moment as a Chapter One volunteer? Every post you share, every conversation you have with a colleague, and every person you inspire helps us reach this ambitious goal and transforms children's futures through the power of reading.

Help us spread the word on social media!

Images and logos

Images can be found in this Dropbox folder. If you require any other images or if you cannot access the Dropbox link, please email Isabel Davies, our Social Media and Communications Officer, at isabel.davies@chapterone.org.

Help us spread the word on social media!

Suggested LinkedIn post - don't forget to tag us!

The National Year of Reading 2026 is officially here! 🎉

Through my employer, I'm proud to be an online reading volunteer with @Chapter One UK, which is mobilising the business community to step up with a bold commitment to recruit 1,000 additional reading volunteers in 2026.

Why does this matter? Only 1 in 3 children aged 8-18 enjoy reading anymore - the lowest in 20 years. Many don't have anyone at home to practise with, yet reading for pleasure is crucial for success in school, work and life.

As an online reading volunteer, I spend just 30 minutes a week helping a child build their confidence and discover the joy of reading. Every session makes a difference. With the National Year of Reading aiming to inspire thousands of community reading champions nationwide, there's never been a better time to get involved. How will your workplace meet the moment?

Other ways to support us

Payroll Giving

Already volunteering your time? You can extend your impact through Payroll Giving - an easy, tax-efficient way to support Chapter One's work.

A small monthly donation from your salary helps us plan ahead and reach more children during the National Year of Reading and beyond. Because donations are taken before tax, a £10 gift costs you just £8 from your take-home pay.

Regular giving means we can invest in the digital platforms, training, and resources that make your volunteer sessions possible - and help us respond to the growing need for reading support across the UK.

Find out more here

Key messages to remember

When talking about the National Year of Reading, these are the important points to share:

• It's a government-backed campaign running over the whole of 2026

• Only 1 in 3 children aged 8-18 enjoy reading (lowest in 20 years)

• Chapter One is a lead delivery partner, committing to recruit 1,000 additional volunteers

• Reading influencers make a real difference – just 30 minutes a week transforms lives

We'll be updating this toolkit throughout 2026 with more posts and ideas. Watch this space!

Questions? Check out the National Year of Reading FAQs.

For communications support/questions, please contact Isabel Davies, Social Media and Communications Officer, isabel.davies@chapterone.org