Just under half of children and young people aged 8-18 enjoy reading or creating poetry, although that figure rises to 55.7% of those who receive free school meals, according to a survey from National Literacy TrustUK-based organisation which has campaigned since 1993 to improve literacy standards across all age groups. Excellent research information and details of the many initiatives the charity is currently involved in. www.literacytrust.org.uk. It also has a useful page of news stories on UK literacy, which links to newsletter http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/TheLibrary.aspx to mark National Poetry Day.
For the report, entitled "A thing that made me happy: Children, young people and poetry in 2018", researchers Christina Clark and Fay Lant surveyed 2,978 8-18 year-olds from 27 schools between May and july this year.
Just under half (46.1%) of those surveyed said they engaged with poetry in their free time. A quarter said they consumed it by reading, listening or watching poetry performances and 10.4% said they wrote or performed it themselves. Another 10.3% said they do both.
