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Minister of State for Schools and special guests celebrate the 15th anniversary of the National Literacy Trust
13 Nov 2008
Yesterday (Wednesday 12 November), independent charity the National Literacy Trust (NLT) celebrated its 15 th anniversary at a reception at the House of Commons, hosted by Lyn Brown MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries and Literacy and sponsored by Edexcel.
The NLT was joined by nearly 120 MPs, peers, funders and people who have benefitted from its reading and writing programmes. Speaking at the event was Minister of State for Schools, Jim Knight MP, who congratulated the National Literacy Trust on its achievements.
The Minister was joined by bestseller and Quick Reads author Adele Parks; illustrators Helen Craig and Axel Scheffler, who have donated work to an NLT fundraising auction; and reading role models Graeme Murty from Reading FC and performance artist Mr Midas.
Over the last 15 years, the National Literacy Trust has empowered learners, supported professionals and influenced policy and practice in order to realise its vision of a society in which everyone has the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that they need to fulfil their own and, ultimately, the nation’s potential.
National Literacy Trust director Jonathan Douglas said:
We can be proud of what we have achieved so far, and the tangible impact we have made on the literacy landscape.
Yet, demands on literacy skills are rapidly increasing and there is still much to do to reach those people who are in most need of literacy support.
With your help, we will transform the life opportunities of thousands more children and adults from disadvantaged communities over the next 15 years.”
Since the NLT was founded in 1993, literacy rates have increased with 80% of 11-year-olds reaching levels expected for their age in 2007, compared with 56% in 1995. Since 1993, the National Literacy has raised over £5 million to support and inspire children and adult learners. The NLT has:
- Led the incredibly successful 2008 National Year of Reading and the 1998/9 National Year of Reading
- Given 290,000 children from disadvantaged communities the opportunity to choose 863,000 free books to keep
- Inspired over 76,000 children and adults using the power of sport, with over 100 professional footballers taking part in reading and writing programmes
- Changed male perceptions of reading through 4,000 men and boys who actively promote the enjoyment of reading to their peers
- Distributed 1.7 million mini-guides to family reading
- Inspired 7,000 schools to join our programmes to promote literacy
- Engaged over 2,000 schools and 100 prisons in our programmes to encourage boys and men to promote reading
- Been hugely influential in establishing literacy as a central priority of the education system and a key concern for local authorities
- Championed evidence-based practice, disseminating literacy research findings and publishing 16 pieces of our own research
- Placed issues including family literacy, reading for pleasure and boys’ reading firmly at the top of the agenda
To celebrate the charity’s 15 th anniversary, the publishers HarperCollins Publishers made a donation of seven and half thousand books. These were distributed by The Returns Company and given away to local families in Rochdale, Staffordshire and Lambeth.
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For more information and photographs from the event please contact Fiona Lewis on 020 7820 6253 or 07786 807 312 or email fiona.lewis@literacytrust.org.uk
Notes to editors
About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. See www.literacytrust.org.uk
The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, no. 1116260, and a company limited by guarantee, no. 5836486, Registered office: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL.
About Edexcel
Edexcel, a Pearson company, is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally. See www.edexcel.org.uk
About the 2008 National Year of Reading
The 2008 National Year of Reading is a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It will help to build a greater national passion for reading – for children, families and adult learners alike. The Year will encourage people to read in businesses, homes, and communities around the country, providing new opportunities to read and helping people to access help and support through schools and libraries. The 2008 National Year of Reading is being managed by the National Literacy Trust and lead partner The Reading Agency. See www.yearofreading.org.uk
