National Literacy Trust

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity (registered no. 1116260 in England and Wales and registered no. SCO42944 in Scotland) based in London, England, that promotes literacy.

It was founded by Sir Simon Hornby, former chairman of the major national retail chain, WHSmith PLC. Its current Director is Jonathan Douglas.

The idea for a charity specifically promoting literacy emerged after Sir Simon Hornby became aware, in his capacity as a trustee for the British Dyslexia Association, of the “highly fragmented approach to literacy in the UK, which had a direct impact on the effectiveness of programmes directed at people with dyslexia at all ages”. With encouragement from his fellow trustees, Sir Simon commissioned research from the public relations department of WHSmith into the need for a national literacy agency. After a year of interviews with educational specialists, government officials, and the statutory and voluntary agencies whose work had a literacy component, the study’s conclusion was unequivocal: “No agency existed whose specific remit was to promote the issue of literacy, in its many social, political and cultural dimensions, to stimulate new literacy initiatives, and to promote public awareness of the significance of the issue and of practical means to improve literacy standards in all age groups”.

Sir Simon retained a recruitment consultancy in early 1992 to identify an appropriate individual with the skills to develop a national organisation dedicated to literacy. Among the candidates put forward, Sir Simon was most impressed by Usha Prashar (now Baroness Prashar of Runnymede). As the former director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), with a particular interest in organisational development, Baroness Prashar had a record of achievement which Sir Simon regarded as ideally suited for the establishment of the new organisation. Baroness Prashar was attracted by the opportunity to build an organisation whose need had already been demonstrated and was impressed by the personal commitment demonstrated by Sir Simon for its implementation.

Baroness Prashar accepted the assignment to establish the core objectives of the new organisation and to work with Sir Simon in securing the voluntary funding necessary for the first years of its operation. Building on the research conducted by WHSmith, Baroness Prashar conducted over 40 interviews with literacy specialists at the Institute of Education of the University of London, with senior executives from statutory and non-governmental organisations dealing with literacy, and with officers from trusts and foundations funding educational development. The conclusions of this work were broadly in line with the previous study. There was a consensus that significant advances could be made by: the identification and dissemination of best practices in the UK, the United States and elsewhere; a renewed effort to raise the profile of literacy as a political and pedagogical issue; and the stimulation of new initiatives, highlighting, in particular, the important role of a conducive family environment.

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