We know that teenagers’ reading enjoyment and engagement has declined over the last decade and is now at an all-time low (National Literacy Trust, 2023), but this research with the teenagers themselves can help understand the reasons for this decline and identify effective practices to support them to find and/or maintain a love of reading.

In this session, we will share the findings from the Young People's Reading Project - which include teenagers' perspectives on the barriers and motivators to reading for pleasure – and practical ideas for how to support teenagers’ reading practices.

Speakers

Charlotte Webber is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, working on a project in collaboration with Scottish Book Trust. Her research focusses on understanding and improving teenagers' reading experiences through collaboration with pupils and education professionals. She also has a particular interest in representation of neurodivergence in YA fiction.

Sarah McGeown is Director of the Literacy Lab at the University of Edinburgh.  She is interested in understanding and supporting children and young people’s reading experiences and outcomes, with a specific focus on inspiring and sustaining a love of reading.  You can learn more about the Literacy Lab here.