Next year, 2026, promises to be a landmark for reading, imagination, and storytelling across the UK. It is the official Year of Reading, and it also marks the 21st anniversary of Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, right here in Newcastle. For over two decades, Seven Stories has inspired young readers, supported authors and illustrators, and demonstrated the transformative power of stories in shaping lives.

For me, the magic of books began in a place that felt far from ordinary: the local public library, a place of mystique, quiet wonder, and unknown pleasures waiting on every shelf. I can still remember the weekly excitement – the shiver of anticipation as I entered, the thrill of discovering new stories, and the agonising internal turmoil of choosing just four books to take home while reluctantly putting the others back. Those small decisions felt monumental at the time, but they marked the beginning of an incredible journey – a love of reading that has been a source of joy and discovery throughout my life. Even now, nothing quite matches the pleasure of opening a book and losing yourself in another world. That early experience gives me a deep appreciation for the transformative role that centres like Seven Stories play in children’s lives.

Newcastle: a city of literary leadership

Having a national centre for children’s books based in Newcastle is a source of immense pride for our region. Seven Stories ensures the North East is not only represented on the national literary map but also plays a leadership role in celebrating, preserving, and promoting children’s literature. It is a hub where creativity and imagination flourish – a place that attracts talent, ideas, and investment, and that champions literacy as a gateway to opportunity.

Since opening in 2005, Seven Stories has become a cornerstone of the region’s cultural landscape. Its exhibitions and experiences have captured the imagination of children and adults alike, transporting visitors into the worlds of their favourite stories while revealing the craft and creativity behind the books. Highlights have included immersive celebrations of Julia Donaldson’s characters, exhibitions exploring the worlds of Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter, and the ‘Picture This’ series of illustration-focused exhibitions, which reveal the artistry and imagination behind beloved stories. Each exhibition entertains and educates, showing children that reading is not just about words on a page – it’s a doorway into imagination, creativity, and curiosity.

Seven Stories’ impact reaches far beyond its galleries. Its programmes connect with schools, homes, and community spaces across the region, ensuring that every child has the chance to discover the joy of reading. A particularly notable recent achievement has been helping to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Newcastle, giving thousands of children free books delivered directly to their homes. Initiatives like this demonstrate how a national centre with a local presence can transform lives, fostering literacy and a love of reading from the very start of a child’s life.

The cultural impact of Seven Stories

As a trustee, I see firsthand the power of these experiences. Stories spark curiosity, nurture imagination, and build empathy. They help children understand the world, dream bigger, and explore possibilities beyond their immediate environment. Supporting a child’s reading journey is not simply about literacy skills; it equips the next generation to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage creatively with the world.

The Year of Reading presents an extraordinary opportunity to shine a spotlight on this work. Literacy is not just an academic skill; it underpins success in every aspect of life. It affects educational achievement, social mobility, and lifelong learning. Celebrating literacy encourages schools, families, and communities to come together to value reading, writing, and storytelling in all its forms. For children, it can mean the same thrill I remember from my library visits – that incomparable excitement of discovery and the agonising, joyful challenge of choosing the stories that will stay with you forever.

Seven Stories is uniquely positioned to lead this celebration in the North East. Its outreach programmes bring books, storytelling, and creative experiences into classrooms, libraries, and community venues, ensuring geography is no barrier to participation. By connecting children with authors and illustrators, offering workshops and performances, and curating exhibitions that inspire and educate, Seven Stories nurtures the writers and illustrators of tomorrow while enriching the cultural life of the region today.

Memorable exhibitions have shown how stories can come to life in ways that are both imaginative and instructive. The ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ exhibition invited children to step into Willy Wonka’s world, exploring the creativity behind the book and encouraging young visitors to think about storytelling in their own lives. The ‘Picture This’ illustration exhibitions have revealed how images complement and expand narratives, helping children understand that books are a blend of words and art – and that every story can spark a child’s imagination in unique ways. Each of these experiences reinforces the value of literacy as an active, joyful pursuit rather than a mere skill to be taught.

Into the future with Seven Stories

Looking forward, Seven Stories plans to harness the momentum of the Year of Reading to expand its reach and deepen its impact. The centre has ambitious plans for future programmes, exhibitions, and partnerships designed to embed literacy and creativity more widely across the region. Initiatives like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library encourage children to see reading not just as a skill, but as a source of pleasure, inspiration, and personal growth. By positioning Newcastle as the home of a national literary hub, we are sending a clear signal that the North East values culture, education, and creativity as vital to its future.

The presence of a national body in Newcastle also has wider economic and cultural benefits. It attracts creative talent and visitors to the city, stimulates partnerships with schools, universities, and cultural organisations, and strengthens the region’s profile as a place where ideas, learning, and imagination are nurtured. Seven Stories is not just a museum or gallery – it is a centre of innovation, education, and aspiration that impacts the entire region, from the classroom to the home, from leisure to professional life.

Now, Seven Stories has the chance to take another important step. The centre is in the running to receive a £5,000 award from the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good, funding that will help bring books and creativity to even more children, schools, and communities across the North East. It takes just 30 seconds to nominate Seven Stories, and your support could make a tangible difference in the lives of young readers and the broader cultural life of the region.

For me, and for many others, the joy of reading began with moments of discovery in a library full of quiet wonder; the thrill of exploring unknown worlds, the challenge of choosing which stories to take home, the excitement of being transported somewhere entirely new. By supporting Seven Stories, you are helping ensure that children across the North East can experience that same excitement, curiosity, and delight. Together, we can make 2026 a year where reading is celebrated, literacy is championed, and imagination and creativity flourish across the region.

To help inspire young readers by nominating Seven Stories please click here.