I am raising money to support Bookmark. Bookmark is an incredible charity supporting children's literacy by promoting reading for pleasure in primary schools, with a focus on supporting children in the most disadvantaged communities.

Poor literacy can have a devastating impact on a child's life. They are more likely to be unemployed, live in poverty, have poor health, and lower life expectancy as a result.

According to Bookmark, 1/4 children leave primary school unable to read well and 1/5 children aged 5 to 8 don’t have a book of their own at home.

The fact that 57% of prisoners are unable to read at the expected level of an 11-year old further outlines the importance of Bookmark's mission of helping children read for a fair chance in life.

I am incredibly grateful that reading is and has always been part of my life. Having experienced first-hand the impact reading has on children when I volunteered at a primary school as a teenager, I am proud to be supporting Bookmark.

By fostering a love of reading, we can change the story for children, equipping them with the reading skills they need for a brighter future.

Thank you for your support!