National Year of Reading
National Year of Reading
Reducing reoffending through literacy skills
The National Year of Reading creates a powerful moment to promote reading and learning not only within our custodial sites but also across community delivery.
CFO is supporting the National Year of Reading 2026 in addition to its core work across custody, through the gate and in the community. CFO encourages reading and literacy through workbooks, creative activities and peer support in custody, helps people continue reading when they leave prison, in the community, CFO Activity Hubs offer book clubs, mentoring and literacy‑focused events.
CFO Activity Hubs provide a range of literacy-focused activities designed to build participants’ reading confidence, communication skills and engagement with education and training. This includes regular book clubs, where participants read together, discuss texts and select future titles collectively.
Hubs also deliver literacy support through organisations such as the Shannon Trust, alongside peer‑led mentoring that helps individuals develop essential reading skills in a supportive environment.
National literacy events, including activities linked to World Book Day, further encourage participation and promote positive learning experiences within the community.
National Year of Reading has established six practical ways of supporting the development of literacy skills – here’s how CFO are supporting each:
Embed a culture of reading with bespoke resources
Workbooks are available throughout the CFO Evolution programme and participants can request further materials to enhance their progression.
Enhance access to reading materials
CFO have multiple, ever-growing libraries available at CFO Wings, with reading materials and book clubs at CFO Activity Hubs too.
Become a literacy champion
Literacy champions and peer mentors are present at several CFO locations, supporting others through reading and writing skills.
Connect reading to wellbeing and family time
An activity was facilitated at the Community Living Unit at HMP High Down whereby participants read storybooks to their children; having a positive impact on both participants and their families.
Collaborate with partner organisations
CFO work with several sub-providers and stakeholders to best engage participants; the Shannon Trust are just one of many who help to improve participants’ literacy skills.
Take part in national and sector moments
Activity schedules from CFO Activity Hubs contain national days with educational elements, such as World Book Day; they outline educational and literacy-based activities available to participants monthly.
CFO Newsletter
Read all about how CFO are supporting the National Year of Reading in our latest newsletter.
Peer Support
Peer support can be a key factor in helping participants to boost their literacy skills. At the Nottingham CFO Activity Hub, Matthew* has been offering this support to others, having graduated through the peer mentoring programme at the Hub.
Matthew’s* Support Worker assisted him in identifying transferrable skills and experience to develop into the role, even working around health restrictions to define a new career path for Matthew*.
These literacy sessions have been beneficial to participants in improve their literacy skills and helping to make everyday information more accessible. They have also been positive for Matthew*, who has been able to gain experience in teaching others, moving him closer to his career goals.
Speaking about his experience, Matthew said: “Helping people to improve their literacy skills has had a strong impact on my sense of self and my self-worth. I don’t actually know if I helped anyone break the cycle they were on or not, but I like to think that I, at least, gave them the opportunity to do so. Peer mentoring has had a massively positive impact on my life and on the lives of others, including my own family. I definitely gain just as much from my mentoring work as I give to those I help and I hope it carries on for a long time to come.”
Literacy Activities
Literacy activities are available in both custody and the community – here is just a taste of what is on offer to participants.
Wing Libraries
Libraries at CFO Wings allow participants to access reading materials that may otherwise be unavailable to them, helping develop literacy skills in their own time.
Book Clubs
Available in custody and the community, book clubs help to bring participants together through reading; reducing social isolation and improving communication.
Creative Writing
Participants can engage with writing activities such as poetry, lyric writing and more to showcase their creativity and build confidence.
Workbooks
Workbooks are available throughout the CFO Evolution programme to support personal development, with practical goals and outcomes.
Reading for Families
Opportunities for participants to read storybooks to their children; supporting literacy, bonding family ties and communication.
Shannon Trust
Peer‑led reading sessions through sub-provider, Shannon Trust, helping people who cannot read or who struggle to read, delivered 1-2-1 and in small groups.
Themed Days
Activities linked to events such as World Book Day; these are used to promote engagement, reading for pleasure and discussion.
Gender-Inclusive
Hubs may offer integrated or women‑only groups to support inclusion and participant choice in a suitable environment.
“Book Club is great. It has been helping me with my confidence and reading skills, as well as my dyslexia.”
Benjamin*, Wolverhampton CFO Activity Hub Participant
Make a referral
Making a referral to the CFO programme is simple and easy via our referral form.