One in 17 children in the UK don’t own a single book – approximately two children in every class - and more than one in four 11-year-olds had below-expected reading levels in 2019. New research, commissioned by Aldi, reveals that 90% of charity professionals believe that children’s reading abilities have declined since the start of the pandemic.
To help more children experience reading, Aldi will donate more than 100,000 books to children across the UK ahead of the school summer holidays. The books will be produced by Macmillan Children's Books and distributed with support from the charity Magic Breakfast, who provide free, nutritious breakfasts to children and young people at schools in disadvantaged areas. Additional copies will also be donated via giving platform, Neighbourly.
To encourage customers to help all children experience the escapism that reading can bring, Aldi has commissioned an animation narrated by footballer Marcus Rashford MBE - long-term advocate for child equality and best-selling children’s author. The animation, “My Reading Journey”, illustrated by Lisa Stickley, brings to life how much joy reading can bring to a child.
