Today marks the official launch of the National Year of Reading 2026 – and we're asking the business community: How will you meet the moment?

As a lead delivery partner for this landmark government campaign, we're committing to recruit 1,000 additional online reading volunteers in 2026.

Now we're asking organisations across the UK to step up alongside us.

The statistics are stark: just 1 in 3 children aged 8-18 enjoy reading – the lowest in 20 years. But here's what we know – it truly takes a village to raise a reader and reading for pleasure is more directly correlated with academic success than even parental income. Our volunteers act as crucial reading influencers in children's lives, providing weekly one-to-one support that builds confidence and skills and sparks joy in reading. For many of the children we work with, who live in communities facing disadvantage, our volunteers are the only adults they regularly read with outside the classroom.

Transform children's futures through workplace volunteering

Just 30 minutes a week from their desk. That's all it takes for employees to become reading influencers who help children develop confidence, fluency, and a love of reading. Our online platform makes volunteering seamless – no travel required, flexible scheduling, and full training provided.

For potential partners: 2026 is the year to join the UK's largest virtual reading programme. We'll work with you to establish workplace volunteering that fits your organisation, engages your employees, and creates measurable impact for children facing disadvantage.

For our existing partners: Is your organisation ready to renew or expand your commitment? Whether you want to reinvigorate your commitment to your current volunteer targets or want to scale your impact further, the National Year of Reading provides the perfect moment to mobilise more of your workforce.

Beyond volunteering, organisations are also invited to champion our work through strategic funding for digital development, pro bono expertise, or by leveraging your networks and platforms to help us reach more volunteers.

There’s no sitting this one out.
Let's talk.

Contact our corporate partnerships team to discuss how your organisation can help transform children's futures through reading.

For potential partners:

Sarah Taylor, Business Development Manager: sarah.taylor@chapterone.org

Karen Price, Business Development Officer: karen.price@chapterone.org

For current partners:

Roxanne Welch, Corporate Partnerships Manager: roxanne.welch@chapterone.org