Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that
lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. Lacking
vital literacy skills holds a person back at every stage of their life.
As a child they won't be able to succeed at school, as a young adult
they will be locked out of the job market, and as a parent they won't be
 able to support their own child's learning. This intergenerational
cycle makes social mobility and access to opportunities more difficult.

Three years ago, I changed career to become an English teacher. I trained and still teach at a secondary school in Wood Green, Haringey, London. In this position, I have become acutely aware of the inequality which permeates society; I have also become acutely aware how the root of inequality lies in the literacy issue.

In school I have seen for myself how those pupils who struggle with basic literacy are often those most disengaged with learning and lacking in confidence. These will be the pupils who, without action, will leave school without the skills to survive, let alone thrive in society.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity which works with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literacy skills to succeed in life. I am proud to be running the marathon in support of this important cause. Any donation, big or small, is much appreciated. Thank you.

I will leave you with a few profound facts and statistics about literacy in the UK which the NLT’s studies have brought to light:

-    16.4% of adults in England, or 7.1 million people, can be described as having 'very poor literacy skills.'
-    Children born into communities with the most serious literacy challenges have some of the lowest life expectancies in England. A girl born in a ward with some of the greatest literacy challenges in the country will live 20.9 years shorter than a girl born in a ward with some of the fewest literacy challenges (2018).
-    Reading is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background.
-     1 in 11 disadvantaged children in the UK say that they don’t have a book of their own.
-    Low levels of literacy undermine the UK’s economic competitiveness, costing the taxpayer £2.5 billion every year (KPMG, 2009).

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.