Book Donation Campaign Aims To Boost Children’s Reading

An Oxford-based communications agency has launched a book donation campaign to encourage more children to read, as new figures show enjoyment of reading among young people is at its lowest level in 20 years.

Fortitude Communications has partnered with Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh) to mark National Storytelling Week, appealing for donations of good-quality paperback books for children aged three to 11.

The campaign follows recent national surveys highlighting a decline in children’s reading habits. A 2025 survey by the National Literacy Trust found only one in three people aged eight to 18 enjoy reading in their free time, a 36 per cent drop over two decades. Research from early years charity Kindred Squared also showed more than a quarter of children start primary school unable to use a book correctly.

Greig Box Turnbull, founder of Fortitude Communications, said: “Reading is a joy and inspires and broadens the mind. It is vital to the development and prospects of children and it’s a profound tragedy many schools now don’t think students can even read a full novel anymore.

“It is an alarming trend, as a team at Fortitude we all share a passion for storytelling and a deep appreciation of reading and felt compelled to do something to celebrate books and encourage youngsters to read.”

Based in Bicester, ARCh provides one-to-one reading support for primary school children who struggle with literacy. In 2025, the charity supported 910 children across 111 Oxfordshire schools with the help of 301 volunteers.

Elaine Adams, joint founder and CEO of ARCh, said: “This support will help us reach more children and families and inspire a lasting love of books.”

The book collection also aligns with the National Year of Reading 2026, a nationwide initiative promoting everyday reading.