A famous author has inspired a group of TACT young people, in a workshop aimed at encouraging a passion for reading.

Andy Stanton, the celebrated author of the Mr Gum book series, led an online workshop organised by TACT Fostering – in line with their extensive year-long National Year of Reading campaign activities.

He took the participants through his own creative processes, including the time he wrote a story for his nephews on Christmas Eve (which they ignored as it was Christmas), only to find the story again years later ‘in a box’. That story became the first Mr Gum book.

No stranger to working with children, Andy said: “I’ve been talking to children in schools and at book festivals for twenty years now. I haven’t done any events or workshops for children in care before. Whomever I’m talking to I always strive to make my events inclusive and welcoming for all. 

“There’s a part of the workshop where I ask the children if they’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night with a crazy idea running through their head. I always love hearing the surprising answers that come out of that. Hopefully the children were engaged throughout, but these moments of interaction stand out [for me].”

Andy is also passionate about encouraging a love for reading in young people: “Reading can expand a young person’s horizons and make them aware that a whole world of opportunity is out there. Even if that opportunity is ‘just’ the opportunity to explore a different life or viewpoint for a while via escapist fiction – that’s invaluable and so many life lessons can be taught under cover of ‘only a story’!”

Tina Bull, an Education Advisory Teacher who works within TACT’s Education Service, echoed this sentiment: “Sessions like this, particularly when we can call on established writers and illustrators, are wonderfully inspiring for our young people.

“Throughout our sessions, if we can inspire just one of our young people to read more regularly or more widely, the work and planning for our year-long calendar of National Year of Reading activities will have been worth it.”

The National Year of Reading is a campaign aimed at bringing the joy back to reading for children and young people. It’s not an annual event. In fact, there have only been two other campaigns; in 1998 and 2008. In 2026, with smartphones and AI taking hold of our younger generations, the act of reading has taken a backseat. According to The National Literacy Trust, only 1 in 3 children and young people aged 3-18 currently enjoy reading in their free time, and only 1 in 5 read daily.

Research undertaken by the Department for Education has shown that children who are confident readers by the end of primary school can earn £65,000+ more over their lifetime compared to non-readers. The theme for the 2026 campaign is called ‘Go All In’, which encourages young people to read about their hobbies, interests and passions. This could include music, films, food and sport – using a wide range of different formats to make reading more culturally relevant, engaging and enjoyable.