Books have the power to spark imagination, expand knowledge, and shape futures, yet for many children in the UK, access to books remains a privilege rather than a given. As we look to celebrate World Book Day in March, it’s important to shine a light on the inequalities surrounding book ownership and reading access, and explore how we can work together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to fall in love with reading.
The importance of access to books
Access to books is still a major barrier to a lot of children with 1 in 10 (9.8%) children between the ages of 5 and 18 not having access to books at home, according to The National Literacy Trust. This study also found that children who own books are twice as likely (22.5%) to read above the expected level for their age compared to those who don’t own books (10.6%).
The impact of book ownership goes beyond the development of literacy skills—it affects children’s abilities to foster creativity and imagination. In fact, the World Book Day website states “Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.”
But here’s the issue: many children in the UK simply do not have the same access to books as others.
The reasons behind this inequality are complex, but some key factors include:
Financial barriers
Books can be expensive, and when families are struggling with the cost of living, buying books is often a lower priority than essentials like food and heating. 20% of parents in the UK say they are purchasing fewer books for their children due to financial pressures, rising to 36% among low-income families (House of Commons Library).
Limited access to libraries
Public libraries play a crucial role in ensuring all children can access books, but an article from The BBC stated that more than 180 council-run libraries have either been closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016. Out of this, more deprived communities were four times more likely to have lost a publicly-funded library in that time (The BBC).
Lack of reading spaces at home
41% of parents say their children do not have a quiet place to read at home, making it even harder for them to engage with books (House of Commons Library).
The digital divide
While e-books and audiobooks provide alternative ways to access reading materials, children from low-income families are less likely to have access to digital devices or a reliable internet connection to benefit from these resources.
What we can do to help accessibility to books
There are many ways we can all contribute to ensuring more children have access to books.
Donate books
If your child has outgrown their books, consider donating them to schools, libraries, or charities that distribute books to children in need. You can also donate through the Uniformd platform, we are holding a £0 book journey initiative for World Book Day, to give every child the opportunity to be involved and find their passion for reading.
Set up a book swap
Schools and parent groups can organise book swaps to ensure more books are shared and reused within communities.
Support literacy charities
Organisations like The National Literacy Trust, BookTrust, and the Children’s Book Project work to get books into the hands of children who need them most.
Advocate for libraries
Supporting local libraries by visiting, borrowing and donating books.
At Uniformd, we believe that no child should ever feel as though they are at a disadvantage when it comes to education and reading.
You can get involved in our £0 journey this World Book Day; just bring any old books into to your school to be uploaded onto the Uniformd site and let the school know you wish for it to be a part of the £0 journey. This way we can all take small steps to help bridge the gap in reading inequalities.
