Enterprise Mobility and the National Literacy Trust donate Tolá Okogwu’s book to 255 UK schools

Enterprise Mobility and the National Literacy Trust are launching their third year of partnership by donating 25,000 copies of Tolá Okogwu’s Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK) to 255 schools across the UK, focusing on underprivileged areas.

The news comes amid findings from the National Literacy Trust that book ownership is at a five-year low among children and young people, with those from less advantaged backgrounds twice as likely to not have books at home.

The book chosen for this book drive, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, features a Black protagonist, and aims to promote diverse representation in children’s literature. Accompanying the book donations are free classroom resources and videos hosted by Cbeebies presenter Gyasi Sheppy and actress Sarah Lewis Obuba.

One school in London will also receive a visit from the author, where she will be sharing writing tips and introducing the children to her book.

Through their partnership, Enterprise Mobility and the National Literacy Trust have now donated approximately 75,000 books to children across the UK. The project is financially supported by Enterprise Mobility’s global ROAD Forward initiative—a £43m commitment over five years, aimed at advancing social and racial equity in communities worldwide, launched in 2020.

The towns and cities receiving books from the partnership include Liverpool, Manchester, Rochdale and Birmingham, as well as Edinburgh, Bradford, Leeds and Nottingham—among others. 

Jason Vit, head of local areas at the National Literacy Trust, said: "Engaging children in the joy and fun of reading is an essential part of building those key literacy skills that will help them thrive at school, and for the rest of their lives. At the National Literacy Trust, we work across the UK in places facing the biggest challenges, including literacy levels. Through our partnership with Enterprise Mobility, we can reach more children who need the most support and fire their imaginations and love of reading with thrilling books like Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun."

Ryan Johnson, managing director for the UK and Ireland at Enterprise Mobility, added: “Through our partnership with the National Literacy Trust, we are addressing the concerning decline in book ownership among children across the UK. Together, we are working to inspire young minds, promote diversity in literature, and empower children to unlock their full potential through reading.”