Your communities, our support

We work in partnership with local authorities and others to raise literacy levels and reduce social exclusion. See Why have a strategic approach to literacy? for more of the benefits.

Our principles 

• Plans must be shaped to local need and built on a robust evidence base.
• The most effective approaches are supported by a wide range of partners and organisations.
• Existing provision must be as accessible as possible and resources should be targeted to those with the greatest need.
• Frontline staff and volunteers need to be supported to identify and support those with literacy needs.
• Improving literacy levels is a long-term issue – literacy must be embedded as a strategic priority at a local level.

This approach is grounded in research and current policy, with proven impact reported by our current local authority partners.

View a presentation on our work with communities and local areas. 

Examples of local practice using our approach

• Middlesbrough Council is working with us to deliver an area-wide programme of targeted activities and a media campaign
• Wiltshire County Council identified innovative ways for midwives and health visitors to encourage new parents to support their child’s literacy development. Wiltshire's strategy
• Rochdale is helping individuals to improve their own skills. Volunteers and frontline staff are trained to become Literacy Champions, providing peer-to-peer support in local neighbourhoods.
• Working with us, Sheffield identified a gap in training offered to foster carers and now links carers to existing services so that they know how to help their foster children improve their literacy. Sheffield's strategy

Read more examples in our report, Local authorities improving life chances: A review of a new approach to raising literacy levels.