Camden champions lifelong reading with new strategy and summer challenge
This week (Monday 23 June), Camden revealed its first-ever borough-wide strategy dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of reading for all residents. The landmark strategy was unveiled at the British Library, coinciding with the exciting launch of this year's Summer Reading Challenge.
Developed in close partnership with The Reading Agency and Camden’s Libraries Service, and shaped by valuable local voices, the Camden Reading Together 2025–2030 strategy sets a shared vision to make Camden a place where everyone, from babies to older adults, can discover and nurture a passion for reading.
Reading is far more than just a skill; it's a powerful tool for building confidence, strengthening community bonds, and enhancing wellbeing for everyone.
"Over the next five years, we are committed to working across our borough to make reading more accessible, inclusive, and joyful. Launching this strategy alongside the Summer Reading Challenge, a cornerstone event for our young readers, truly highlights our holistic approach to fostering a lifelong love of reading at every age.
The strategy outlines plans to expand inclusive reading spaces, champion books in all formats, and actively use reading as a tool to support learning, mental health, and connection across the community. The six key areas that the strategy focuses on to achieve its ambitious vision are:
- Celebrating the joy of reading and supporting lifelong learning
- Embedding reading across council services and community spaces
- Improving access to reading and language development for all
- Promoting reading to support better health and wellbeing
- Building skills and pathways into meaningful employment
- Strengthening community connections through shared reading activities
Karen Napier MBE, CEO, The Reading Agency, said: “We're delighted to see Camden launching their ambitious Reading Together strategy alongside the Summer Reading Challenge. Having worked closely with Camden to develop this comprehensive strategy, we've seen firsthand their commitment to making reading accessible and joyful for all residents.
“Events like the Summer Reading Challenge celebration at the British Library show how we can inspire children to see reading as an adventure rather than a chore. The Summer Reading Challenge has been transforming lives through reading for over 25 years, and our partnerships with forward-thinking councils like Camden help us reach even more children. When libraries, schools, and communities come together to champion reading, we create the conditions for every child to flourish.”
The strategy was launched to coincide with the start of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025, which invites children aged 4 to 11 to embark on a magical literary journey. This year's theme, Story Garden: Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors, encourages young readers to explore the wonders of the natural world through books.
Around 200 pupils from Year 2 were treated to a range of activities designed to spark their love for reading. They were joined by an impressive line-up of literary talent, including award-winning author, playwright, and children's TV presenter Trish Cooke; Children's Laureate for Wales, award-winning writer, poet, songwriter, and performer Alex Wharton; and storyteller Sandra A Agard, who captivated the audience with traditional tales inspired by the natural world.
Each class received signed copies of popular children's books, including The Magic Callaloo and Daydreams and Jellybeans or Doughnuts, or Thieves and Chimpanzees or Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight, further fuelling their love for literature. Every child also took home an invitation to the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden, a sticker booklet, and a Summer Reading Challenge bag, providing them with everything they need to start on their reading journey.
The event was also live-streamed to other schools across the country as part of the Living Knowledge Network, extending the reach of this celebration of reading to even more young people.
To join the challenge, children simply need to visit their local library and read up to six books over the summer holidays. Comics and audiobooks are also included, making participation fun and flexible. As they progress, children can earn exclusive stickers, receive certificates, and even win exciting prizes, making reading an adventure.
The Reading Agency has recently announced that Camden is one of 21 library authorities across the UK to have been selected as the first recipients of funding from a transformative £1.5 million grant from the Julia Rausing Trust. This funding will support the expansion of the Summer Reading Challenge – the UK’s largest programme promoting reading for pleasure among children. In 2025, working together, the partners have the ambition to reach an additional 50,000 children.
Visit our webpage for more information on the Camden Reading Together strategy and to read the full document.
‘Every child a reader by age 7’ (ECR7) is also one of the 10 key priorities in Building Back Stronger, Camden’s Education Strategy to 2030.