To launch the National Literacy Trust’s new campaign for individual fundraising, I have agreed to a day without words.

As well as raising money for the charity, we want to publicise the fact that speech and language is the foundation of all literacy, yet speech and language difficulties are the most common form of needs for young children and that without help, a third of children with speech, language and communication difficulties could go on to have mental health problems. In one study, two thirds of young offenders had language problems.

On 5 November I will not be allowed to speak a word during the whole of the working day in order to emphasise the importance of speaking, as a vital literacy skill.