Literacy volunteers in Swindon inspiring a generation of readers

The street party event during Volunteers Week was a collaboration between the National Year of Reading, the National Literacy Trust in Swindon and Swindon Borough Council’s Live Well team.
The National Literacy Trust has 60 active Literacy Champions in the town – volunteers who are passionate about making a difference in their local community and inspiring the people around them to engage with reading, writing, speaking and listening.
The charity is calling on more local people to sign up as Literacy Champions and help to progress the National Year of Reading target to recruit 100,000 volunteers to inspire communities to Go All In on their passions through reading.
Anish Harrison, Manager of the National Literacy Trust in Swindon said: “The Big Lunch event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our incredible volunteers and the meaningful difference they make in communities across Swindon.
“We are always looking for more Literacy Champions to join the team – as trusted voices in their local community, their local insights and experiences enable us to grow our impact faster and extend our reach further. Come and join us in the National Year of Reading!”
Cllr Matt Hinton, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Safety and Services, said: “Volunteers are at the heart of our community and it was wonderful to see so many people come together for The Big Lunch to celebrate the difference they make across Swindon.
“Literacy Champions are helping people of all ages discover the joy of reading, while creating opportunities for neighbours, families and communities to connect. 
"Their passion and commitment are making a real difference to the lives of local people, and I would like to thank every volunteer who gives their time to support others.
“If you are looking for a way to get involved in your community, becoming a Literacy Champion is a fantastic opportunity to share your enthusiasm, inspire others and help more people develop a lifelong love of reading.”
Volunteers and local communities came together outside the Civic Offices in Euclid Street to celebrate the power of sharing stories and food to bring communities together during the National Year of Reading.  
The National Year of Reading 2026, from the Department for Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, is the biggest initiative in a generation designed to inspire the nation to discover a passion for reading and embed it in daily life, as research from the National Literacy Trust shows young people’s enjoyment of reading is at a 20-year low.  
The National Year of Reading, National Literacy Trust in Swindon and Swindon Borough Council joined forces to thank local volunteers for their crucial efforts to support reading and connect communities, and to inspire more people to ‘Go All In’ and make a difference in their local area by signing up to be a Literacy Champion volunteer.
Guests at the street party-style event were encouraged to bring a dish to share with others on a community food table, embracing the spirit of the Eden Project’s Big Lunch initiative - an annual celebration for neighbours and communities. 
There were also family games, storytelling, free books and crafts for local families to enjoy.
Many of the National Literacy Trust in Swindon’s Literacy Champion volunteers were on hand to share how they have encouraged children, young people and adults to discover a love of reading and connect with their communities. 
This includes Literacy Champions who hide books, listen to children read in schools, help run story and rhymes, and stay and play sessions. Some help with sorting books and others help at events.
The National Literacy Trust’s latest evaluation shows that the charity’s Literacy Champions are making at real difference in the communities that they support.
Literacy Champions are helping to increase access to books - 55% distribute books through community initiatives, while many support informal activities like storytelling sessions at local events
They support the literacy of children, young people and adults. 9 in 10 participants in the activities delivered by Literacy Champions said they are more likely to read regularly (95%), know where to go to get help with their literacy (91%), more likely to help others with their reading and writing (91%) and more likely to read regularly with their family (89%)
National Literacy Trust Literacy Champions also report benefits from volunteering - 82% say they feel a stronger sense of connection with their communities, while many also experience increased confidence and improved wellbeing.
Literacy Champions across Swindon support literacy through a wide range of activities - including delivering initiatives in their workplace, supporting local families and getting involved in nationwide moments such as World Book Day. 
They all have the same mission: to encourage a love of reading, writing, speaking and listening in the people around them.  
Swindon is one of 21 areas across the UK where the National Literacy Trust has made a longstanding commitment to empowering local children, young people and families with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. 
In each area, the charity brings together local businesses, health, education, cultural and community organisations, alongside its dedicated Literacy Champions to deliver sustainable, meaningful change.
People can sign up to become a Literacy Champion volunteer at literacytrust.org.uk/volunteer, and find out more about the National Literacy Trust in Swindon at literacytrust.org.uk/swindon
 

Subscribe to The Link