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Free Books Ignite Reading for Yorkshire Kids
21 Aug
Summary
- 4,000 free books distributed this weekend in four Yorkshire towns.
- Yorkshire and the Humber has one of the UK's lowest book ownership rates.
- Reading enjoyment in Yorkshire has seen its first rise in five years.
This Saturday, August 22, 2026, a significant book giveaway event will take place in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. Volunteers are set to distribute 4,000 free books as part of the Festival of Reading, aiming to foster a love for literature among children.
The initiative comes in response to concerning statistics from The National Literacy Trust, which highlight that Yorkshire and the Humber has one of the lowest rates of book ownership in the UK. Research indicates that only 85.3% of respondents in the region own a book at home, a figure significantly lower than in areas like London.
Mayor Oliver Coppard expressed his commitment to making books and stories accessible to every child in the region. National Literacy Trust data also reveals a positive trend: despite lower ownership levels, reading enjoyment in Yorkshire and the Humber has risen since 2025, marking the first increase in five years. This suggests a growing engagement with reading within the community.
