Young People
It can be tough to get young people reading for pleasure. With so many things competing for their free time, survey after survey has found that young people's interest in reading can drop off - particularly once they get to secondary school. However, we know that if you capture a young person's imagination and get him or her involved then they can, and do, get fired up by reading.
Our aim is to encourage more young people aged 11 to 19 to read more and to be the organisation that has the tools and partnerships that can get young people fired up and engaged with reading and literacy. Our vision is that young people's lives are enriched and changed by being able to get involved with reading and literacy opportunities.
MyVoice is our programme for young people aged 11 to 19. It has grown out of our existing programmes such as HeadSpace (a programme where young people can develop library spaces) and groupthing (an online community where people can publish and chat about their creative work).
Young people at the centre of libraries
We were commissioned by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to work with partners to devise a strategy for how libraries can develop their services so that they put 11 to 19 year-old firmly at the centre of developing what libraries offer to this age group.
Read the Young people achievements report.
The National Youth Offer
The National Youth Offer describes the sorts of services libraries can, and should, be providing for young people and how young people can get involved in running services in their local libraries. It illustrates the vital role libraries have in running activities that young people want to get involved with and learn from.
It is based on extensive research, consultation and all the good examples of young people and libraries working together. It was developed by the National Youth Libraries Board, of which The Reading Agency is a member.
Read the National Youth Offer
Read the research report on young people's views, which inspired the youth offer.