My love of reading is a constant which has shaped and, undeniably, enriched my life. I studied English Literature at both undergraduate and postgraduate university level because I found the act of reading a source of unmatched, intellectual stimulation. Since leaving academia, that same love has seen me now pursue a career in book publishing, within the editorial department of Transworld, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

At each stage I was driven by the same impulse: to dedicate as much of my time and my skills as possible towards thinking about books. As both an editorial assistant and, once, a student, I am drawn to how quicksilver books, and words, and writing can be; I am forever throwing my mind against them, in order to work out their mechanics-- why they work, or don't work, what could be done to make them more emotive or urgent, or what that book could achieve in widening the intellectual, empathetic, or imaginative scopes of its readers.

In times of chaos, reading is as necessary to me as rest. I turn to it as a way to parse my feelings on the world; as a way to carve out space in my mind for what I have not yet imagined: of the world, of the lives of other people, or of what my own future and identity might look like if I open myself up to new ideas. It has helped broaden my horizons in ways that I will never fully quantify and has played a part in whatever accomplishments I can identify in my life.

Knowing that reading is an activity not available, or accessible, to many is a grave injustice. The National Literacy Trust has done much to illuminate the consequences of its absence on the lives of young people in the UK, as well as how its inaccessibility heightens existing inequalities:

According to studies conducted by the NTL, on average, children from the poorest backgrounds start school 19 months behind their more privileged peers. To add to this, children without the expected level of literacy skills face further obstacles, which impede their future development and success. For instance, they are:

- five times more likely to fail to meet the expected standards in English at age 11

- four times more likely to be unemployed aged 34

- three times more likely to have mental health problems as adults.

Reading offers children an arena to exercise their imagination and to be exposed to new ideas which could be foundational to their sense of self. In a world where social media pervades so much of the way we interact with each other, offering insidious suggestions of the ways in which children could be found lacking, reading provides a place of comfort and companionship. A space where ideas and passions can be nurtured and take flight.

It's a great cruelty to restrict this ability to imagine and engage with reading from the children who need it most, especially if that inaccessibility cuts short their potential at such an early age.

In order to highlight the need to take seriously the literacy crisis the UK is experiencing and spotlight the importance of reading for growth and success, the National Literacy Trust are running a series of fundraising challenges. This includes the Arctic Challenge, which I am participating in.

The Arctic Challenge is an inspiring wilderness endurance challenge, incorporating activities like dog sledding, ice fishing and hiking. The money I raise through this event will go towards funding the vital work the National Literacy Trust do, in improving children's access to books and to reading, and in helping transform the life stories of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

Money is tight for many, but if you are able to support this initiative-- in however small a donation, it would be hugely appreciated!

Emma x