Because every child deserves a story of their own.
We’re so excited (and honestly, a little emotional) to finally say this out loud: The Reading Tray has officially launched.
This has been a long-held idea, shaped by real children, real classrooms, and a very real problem we can’t ignore any longer.
In the UK today, over 400,000 children grow up without a single book of their own at home. That statistic doesn’t just affect reading levels — it affects confidence, imagination, emotional development, and a child’s belief in what’s possible for them.
The Reading Tray exists to change that.
So… what is The Reading Tray?
The Reading Tray is a literacy-led social enterprise that sits at the intersection of publishing, education, and social impact.
We create high-quality, engaging children’s stories, impactful literacy focused CSR campaigns and literacy experiences that:
- Put real books directly into children’s hands
- Encourage daily reading habits (even just 15 minutes a day makes a difference)
- Help children see themselves reflected in stories
- Support schools, families, and communities where access to books is limited
But we don’t just publish books and walk away.
What we actually do
📖 Children’s Publishing with Purpose
We publish original children’s stories designed to support:
- Early literacy
- Social and emotional learning
- Representation and inclusion
- A genuine love of reading (not reading as a chore)
Every book is written with classrooms, families, and real children in mind — not trends alone.
🏫 School Workshops & Author Visits
Through our workshops, children don’t just read stories — they become storytellers.
We run interactive sessions where children:
- Explore how stories are made
- Create their own characters and ideas
- Build confidence in their voices
- See themselves as authors, not just readers
For many children, this is the first time they’ve ever felt that their story matters.
🎁 Book Ownership Programmes
We believe book ownership is critical — not borrowed, not shared, but theirs.
Our programmes ensure children:
- Take books home permanently
- Build their own mini libraries
- Associate reading with pride, joy, and choice
How we fund the impact (and why it matters)
The Reading Tray operates through a dual-model structure:
- The Reading Tray Ltd works with organisations and partners to create books and literacy campaigns aligned with CSR and community goals.
- The Reading Tray CIC delivers free and subsidised books and workshops into schools and communities that need them most.
This means profit actively funds purpose — every commercial project helps unlock free literacy support elsewhere.
No fluff. No vague promises. Just a model designed to last.
Our mission
At our core, our mission is simple:
To make reading accessible, relatable, and joyful — especially for children who need it most.
We want children to:
- See themselves in stories
- Feel confident opening a book
- Believe their voice has value
- Grow up knowing books belong to them, too
Why this matters to us (personally)
The Reading Tray was born from lived experience — as parents, as educators, as writers, and as people who’ve seen first-hand how much access (or lack of it) shapes a child’s future.
We’re not here to tick boxes or chase vanity metrics.
We’re here to build something meaningful, measurable, and human.
What happens next?
This is just the beginning.
Over the coming months, we’ll be:
- Donating thousands of books to schools
- Rolling out new workshops
- Launching free story initiatives for teachers and families
- Partnering with organisations that genuinely care about literacy and social impact
And we’d love you to be part of that journey.
📩 Follow along. Share our story. Support the mission.
Because when you change a child’s relationship with reading, you don’t just change a habit — you change a future.
Welcome to The Reading Tray 💛
