At Bloomsbury, stories drive us, inspire us, and define us. We’ve seen how literacy can transform a child’s life, opening doors and igniting a lifelong love of stories.

That’s why we’ve signed up for The Arctic Challenge, an endurance adventure involving dog sledding, ice fishing, and trekking through one of the harshest environments on Earth.

We’re taking on this challenge because we believe no child’s potential should be limited by the circumstances they’re born into.

Right now in the UK, children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds start school an average of 19 months behind their more privileged peers. That early gap in literacy can mean:

5 times more likely to fall behind in English by age 11

4 times more likely to be unemployed at 34

3 times more likely to experience mental health issues as adults

The money we raise will go directly toward changing those stories, giving children the literacy support they need to thrive.

This cause is deeply personal to all of us. We believe every child, no matter their background, deserve access to the power of words.

Thank you so much for your support!