My Inspiring Collaboration with Bookmark Reading Charity!

📚 Grateful. Inspired. Honoured.

I’m thrilled to announce my collaboration with Bookmark Reading Charity, where I partnered on their inaugural author short film and was interviewed for their blog! Even more exciting—this short film will be distributed to over 505 schools across England, inspiring children nationwide.

As a volunteer for Bookmark for 9 months, I had the privilege of helping a child struggling with reading gain confidence in her skills. Witnessing her transformation was a powerful reminder of Bookmark’s mission:

"To improve children’s literacy by promoting a reading for pleasure culture in primary schools, with a focus on supporting children in the most disadvantaged communities."

The reading crisis in England has reached alarming levels. Currently, 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read well, limiting their potential and increasing the likelihood of unemployment, poor mental health, and even a shorter life expectancy. Disturbingly, only 1 in 3 children (34.6%) say they enjoy reading—a dramatic drop in the past year alone.

But by fostering a love of reading, we can change their story—equipping them with the skills they need for a brighter future.

Thank you, Bookmark Reading, for this incredible opportunity to advocate for literacy, inclusivity, and joy in storytelling.

Check out my blog interview and short film to learn more here: https://www.bookmarkreading.org/news/the-importance-of-inclusive-storytelling-with-sharika-chauhan

Let’s work together to #SupportYouthLiteracy and #ChangeTheStory.

#InclusiveStorytelling #LiteracyMatters #Volunteering #BookmarkReading #ChildrensLiterature #ReadingForPleasure #ReadingCrisis