Families from across Birmingham came together at Kitts Green Best Start Family Hub on 11 August for a very special day out as part of a national initiative by The Works supporting the Year of Reading 2026. 

 

What is the Year of Reading 2026? 

 

Partnered with the National Literacy Trust (National Literacy Trust | UK Literacy Charity), The Works are working to break down barriers to reading for children and families across the UK.  

 

At Spurgeons, we understand the impact that reading for pleasure can have on a child's future outcomes (See some of these benefits at the end of this blog), so our wonderful colleagues in Birmingham were inspired into action. Organised and delivered by the Hodge Hill Best Start Family Hub team, the event welcomed 210 attendees, including 114 children and young people. Every child had the chance to choose and take home a free book, part of The Works' pledge to donate 250,000 books to children and young people living in disadvantaged communities. 

A visit from a bestselling author 

It was so special to see the children get stuck into an interactive illustration session, as well as a visit from bestselling children's author Jim Smith, creator of the My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary series and have their books personally signed by him.  

 

Creativity, play and a very special guest 

 

If the bus, the books, the roleplay and book signing wasn't exciting enough, our Early Years team also laid on a full programme of creative activities, including mask decorating, bookmark making, sensory play and water play and...a very special visit from much-loved dragon, Zog!

A day that made a difference 

With the cost-of-living pressures hitting families hard, events like these - especially during the summer holidays - can make a real difference. Many of the families our teams talked to afterwards, highlighted just how valuable it was to combine literacy, creativity and family learning in a warm, welcoming community setting. 

A huge well done to the team at Hodge Hill Best Start Family Hub for putting together such a meaningful and memorable event.  

What are the benefits of reading for pleasure? 

Days like this help spark a lifelong love of reading and create memories that will last long after the last page is turned.  

Cognitive and academic growth

  • Better Vocabulary: Children learn new words and complex sentence structures naturally. 

  • Higher Test Scores: Regular readers score better in math, spelling, and reading tests. 

  • Lifelong Learning: Early readers absorb new ideas faster and keep a strong attention span. 

Mental health and social skills

  • Stronger Empathy: Stories help children understand different feelings and life views. 

  • Lower Stress: Young readers show fewer signs of anxiety, sadness, or hyperactivity as they grow. 

  • Higher Confidence: Finishing books builds inner pride and problem-solving skills