Our films and stories April 2026 Update An update from the Head of Coram Beanstalk There has been a lot happening across Coram Beanstalk in recent months, much of it reflecting a growing sense of momentum, not just for us as an organisation, but for the wider literacy sector we are proud to be part of. I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few highlights and look ahead to what comes next. Year of Reading We are proud to be a lead delivery partner for the Year of Reading 2026 and to be supporting the volunteer strategy for this national campaign. Volunteers already play such a vital role in children’s reading lives, and it has been encouraging to see this recognised at a national level. At the London Book Fair, we had the opportunity to present to publishers and authors about the importance of Reading for Pleasure, and about the role Coram Beanstalk and The Literacy Link play in championing a more joined-up, child-centred approach. The resulting conversations were thoughtful, practical and energising, a reminder of how much progress is possible when parts of the system come together. Get Britain Reading We remain a charity partner in The Sunday Times Get Britain Reading campaign. The response has been fantastic! To date, the campaign has generated over 500 new volunteer applications, many of these are now supporting children in Coram Beanstalk schools. Where we haven’t been able to place volunteers directly with us, we have signposted them to other organisations where their time and commitment can still make a difference. This has been a really positive example of the sector working collectively in the best interests of children. The Literacy Link The Literacy Link, co-founded by Coram Beanstalk in 2024, continues to grow in both size and influence. We now have more than 60 member organisations involved, all committed to working collaboratively to improve outcomes for children. We’re delighted that the network is supported by the Fair Education Alliance, through funding from the Year of Reading 2026, which has enabled us to strengthen the coordination role and deepen the work. This year we have introduced a new shared slogan for the network: Check. Connect. Collaborate. It reflects a clear ambition to shift behaviours across the literacy sector, encouraging charities, non-profits and CICs to take time to see how others are working, connect their work more intentionally, and collaborate rather than duplicate. Our collective focus is on how we support children to develop the essential elements required to become readers, framed around four core pillars: Motivation, Skill, Access and Opportunity. These pillars provide a common language and a practical framework to help members align their work and strengthen impact. Welcoming new Trustees I am very pleased to share that we have welcomed two new trustees to the Coram Beanstalk Board: James Ashton and Cassie Buchanon. James brings a wealth of experience in journalism, communications and strategic leadership, along with a strong understanding of how stories can shape public discourse and policy. Cassie offers deep expertise in education, governance and systems change, with a particular focus on equity and inclusion. Both are already making thoughtful contributions, and we are delighted to have them supporting Coram Beanstalk as we move into our next phase. Looking ahead: Strategy 2030 As we look forward, our energy is focused on delivering our Strategy 2030. At its heart is a clear and ambitious aim: to ensure more children become confident, motivated readers by strengthening both direct support and the systems around them. Our future work builds on what we know works. One-to-one, in‑person reading support remains central to our approach. We are increasing our focus on working with care-experienced children in primary schools, while also growing our successful secondary programme, Reading Leaders, which trains older students to become peer mentors for younger pupils in their school community. Alongside this, we are investing in workforce development, partnerships and smarter use of technology to extend our reach and deepen our impact. We are also committed to playing a stronger role as a systems-change organisation: contributing to national conversations about Reading for Pleasure, reducing duplication across the sector, and helping schools and partners navigate an increasingly complex literacy landscape. Underpinning all of this is a focus on robust operations, strong governance and a collaborative culture that reflects our values. There is still much to do, but I remain hugely optimistic. Thank you to our volunteers, partners, trustees and supporters for being part of this journey – and for continuing to believe, as we do, in a future where every child becomes a reader. Manage Cookie Preferences