National Literacy Trust
Speech

Clarence House

Tuesday 9th July 2024

Hello and Happy Birthday Us! Who doesn’t love a birthday party? And this one is particularly splendid, obviously, as it is hosted by Her Majesty, the Queen. What an honour, and a very fitting way to celebrate the fact that during the 30 years of their existence the NLT has helped 5 million children – 5 MILLION - feel empowered and inspired through their countless initiatives.

We’re also celebrating another big round number, there are now 1000 on the ground literacy champions throughout the UK, volunteers who are ensuring that more and more people are given opportunities to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

I have always believed that literacy is the key to a better life. Teesside born and bred it certainly was for me, and my parents before me. As a published author, it’s no surprise to hear that I love reading and writing and I love readers! What surprises me, is that there aren’t more people who know the joys and benefits of reading.

That’s why people like yourselves are such heroes! Literacy champions devoted to bringing the joy and advantages of reading to others. Bravo you!

Reading is educational, through it we can access more knowledge, a fuller vocabulary range which leads to clearer and more confident self-expression and increased opportunities, hopefully, ultimately better employment prospects.

But in addition to helping with our education, reading improves empathy; it’s a way to access different points of view, moving us towards a kinder existence.

As if that wasn’t compelling enough, reading is entertaining, simply put it is just good fun! It can provide laugh-out-loud moments, the opportunity to fall in love, visit different continents or time periods, embark on an adventure – it provides pure escapism. And, my goodness, don’t we all need that from time to time?

So, reading is basically a provider of all the great e-additives as I call them – education, empathy, entertainment and escapism.

It was about 16 or 17 years ago when I first started working with NLT. I was approached and asked I could help with a volunteer recruitment drive. From the get-go I was very impressed by the vision and approach.

It was wonderful to find a community committed to changing lives for the better by developing literacy skills. I felt I’d joined a club that is basically a big ball of energy which constantly rolls forwards, doing good. The National Literacy Trust is practical, focused, professional and caring. And every one of our literacy champions are embodiments of those qualities. Yes, you are!

I grew up just a few miles from Middlesbrough. The NLT very first literacy Hub founded over a decade ago. There are 20 Hubs now up and down the country in the most disadvantaged communities. I am lucky that my parents always valued reading. Books, comics, story-time and libraries were intrinsic to my childhood. However, that is not necessarily the usual story in Teesside. Middlesbrough has some of the biggest literacy challenges in the country.

Low literacy levels dent confidence and create unnecessary limits on a person’s life; it’s a miserable cycle that can trap families in poverty for generations. It breaks my heart to see people born where I was, miss out on the opportunities I was so easily given.

I understand the people from my hometown, I know what limits them financially, emotionally, mentally, because I’m one of them. I know you understand that; you see it in your own hometowns, your own communities whether that’s Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall, Bradford. You know things could be better and you are doing so much to make it so. I’m ridiculously happy and proud to be part of a team that can highlight a practical path to increased opportunities and happiness.

I wish I could individually mention every one of the1000 Literacy champions, or even the 60 plus who are here today. But I can’t, all I can tell you is that your work has been noticed and appreciated, by authors, by the NLT, by her Majesty the Queen. But most importantly it’s been noticed by the people you are helping to find a love of reading, people who you may be helping move away from poverty and limitations.

So I’d like to finish by saying, have a marvellous day, pat yourselves on the back and tomorrow carry on working towards a goal of a balanced society, a country where everyone feels confident enough to pick up a book and access all those good additives I mentioned – education, empathy, escapism and entertainment. Thank you for making a difference.