Category: Learning
Date: 01.03.2006
Printable version
The death of reading has been prematurely reported according to a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ RaW survey for World Book Day (2 March 2006).
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It suggests that reading is an important activity for 79 per cent of us, beating TV (67%), computer games (15%), gardening (49%) - and even sex (69%) - in the popularity stakes.
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Interviews with a 4,000-strong cross section of the population suggest that reading is paramount in people's lives.
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Overall the results show that, across the UK, picking up a book or a newspaper is in the top three activities - alongside listening to music and spending time with friends and family.
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However, although 82 per cent of the population say they enjoy their reading, there is still a significant 17% of adults surveyed who say they do not.
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Liz Cleaver, Controller of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning and Interactive, says: "'This survey shows how much everyone can get from reading but also highlights that there are around one in five adults who don't make time to read.
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"RaW wants to inspire these people to enjoy reading in a way that's relevant to them.
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"RaW makes reading accessible and encourages reluctant readers to see what they can gain by making reading a central part of their lives."
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The RaW survey was conducted as part of the second phase of RaW (Reading and Writing), the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's biggest ever literacy campaign.
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RaW is aimed at the 12.1 million adults in the UK who can read and write, but could not pass a GCSE in English.
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The focus of the campaign is to build learning confidence by helping people rediscover the fun of reading.
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Although reading emerges triumphant in the survey, the study suggests a difference between the sexes - it seems the British male could now be losing out in the bedroom to the competing charms of a good book.
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The results suggest that, for women, reading is much more popular than sex.
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While more than eight out of ten women like to cuddle up with a book, men are equally sure about what they want between the covers - and it's not Joanna Trollope!
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Three quarters of men rated sex as important, while only 64% of women felt the same.
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Notes to Editors
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The survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews with 4,000 adults - representing a cross section of the UK population - by TNS (Taylor Nelson Sofres) on behalf of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audience Research.
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The survey results are released as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ launches the second phase of its three-year RaW literacy campaign.
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There will be a swathe of programming on radio and television, as well as events around the country, for adults who lack confidence with their reading and writing skills.
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RaW focuses on putting the fun back into reading for people who might steer away from formal educational schemes.
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People can find out more by ringing the free phone number 08000 150 950 for one-to-one professional advice.
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They can visit bbc.co.uk/raw which has games, quizzes, book extracts, celebrity recommendations and links to other forms of support.
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They can also visit one of nearly 6,000 RaW centres around the UK. These centres - which include libraries, community centres, pubs, prisons and football clubs - provide informal learning and support for new learners.
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World Book Day this year also sees the launch of Quick Reads: short books written by 12 bestselling writers with reluctant readers in mind. The books are accessible, shorter and cheap - retailing at Β£2.99. They are written for people who want to read but have lost the habit or those who struggle to finish a book.
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More detailed regional breakdown of the survey results is available to the media from the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Press Office. Here are a few highlights:
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People in South West England are apparently most passionate about reading. They give it the highest popularity rating at 84 per cent, nearly a third say they love it and do it all the time, and over half wish they read more.
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Northern Ireland has the biggest divergence on the subject - while a third of those surveyed love reading, Northern Ireland also has the highest number of people (one in 20) who say they hate reading and avoid it.
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People in Wales and the South of England are the most well-read - at least half can count more than 100 books on their shelves at home.
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