The Reading Agency in the UK announce new research into reading for pleasure. ‘The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment‘ reviewed existing research and carried out a survey of 4000 people, showed there is strong evidence that reading for pleasure can increase empathy, improve relationships with others, reduce the symptoms of depression and the risk of dementia, and improve well-being throughout life.
The report, conducted by BOP Consulting and funded by the Peter Sowerby Foundation, is the first stage of a broader project, with a long term goal of creating a robust reading outcomes framework which will enable the organisations to evaluate the impact of their work. It will be used to drive improvement, build understanding about the benefits of reading and broaden the reach of reading programmes.