Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela.

Whether it is reading a book, a newspaper, checking the sports results, or simply using Social Media, reading is both an essential skill and an enjoyable activity that many of us enjoy.

However, our reading ability can also be a key determinate of our future.

Various studies have found poor literacy linked to unemployment, low income, poor health behaviours, and lower life expectancy.

According to the National Literacy Trust there are around seven million adults unable to read, write and communicate successfully and the cost to the country is around £2.5 billion a year.

Poor literacy starts in childhood and, whilst reading with our children is something that most of us have enjoyed doing, it is thought that one in 11 children from disadvantaged backgrounds do not own a book or isn't read to.

To help tackle this literacy crisis, the Rotary Club of Leicester is launching Rotary's Books4Homes project in Leicester to help children locally.

The Rotary Books4Home Leicester project will encourage local children to read by:

Donating books (via a local school) to pupils, and having

Rotarians visit schools to listen to pupils reading.

This is important as research found that children who own books are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age, more than twice as likely to agree that reading is cool, and in turn can have a longer life expectancy and better mental health.

The Rotary Club of Leicester is inviting you to support Rotary Books4Home Leicester by donating to help us buy new children's books.

You can learn more here