The Hargreaves Foundation supports The National Literacy Trust

The trustees of the Hargreaves Foundation are pleased to announce that funding has been awarded to the National Literacy Trust. The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity working to transform lives through literacy, with a particular focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence-based programmes run by the National Literacy Trust supports language, reading, writing and communication at every life stage, while reaching people who are at risk of falling through traditional systems.
According to UK Government there are over 15,000 children in alternative provision, while other sources have this figure at over 25,000. Low literacy drives poverty, exacerbates the risk factors associated with crime and is linked to lower rates of employment.

With funding from the Hargreaves Foundation, the National Literacy Trust will deliver the Game Changers programme, designed to improve reading skills among 11–14-year-olds who have been excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from mainstream education. The programme consists of 20-session literacy intervention that uses sport, particularly football, to build students’ reading comprehension. Coaches from Club Community Organisations linked to professional clubs alongside trained teachers will deliver both classroom and pitch-based activities. These sessions are designed to boost reading skills and promote positive attitudes, giving pupils a real reason to read. Since the launch of the Game Changers programme in 2019, it has reached over 3000 young people in more than 250 settings across the UK.