An important part of the refreshed vision of the Cathedral is a commitment to social justice. Each year a specific area will be highlighted for attention and action. In 2026, our focus is literacy.
Following on from a successful year focused on Modern Slavery, our social justice theme this year is ‘Literacy’.
The UK Government has names 2026 a ‘National Year of Reading’. This is because of the steep decline in reading among children, young people and adults. Last year, the Danish Government removed the tax on books because of a ‘reading crisis’. One in five English children do not own a book.
In England, 18% of adults aged 16 to 65, or 6.6 million people, can be described as having "very poor literacy skills." This means they can understand short straightforward texts on familiar topics accurately and independently, and obtain information from everyday sources, but reading information from unfamiliar sources or on unfamiliar topics could cause problems. Literacy changes everything. It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future.
The Cathedral is partnering with the National Literacy Trust, and other organisations, on various events and projects throughout the year. The Learning Centre is leading imaginative story focused events.
Take a look at the NLT website to learn more about this important theme.
