Primary school children across the borough can now submit their own tales to a new borough-wide story writing competition, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has announced. The contest, launched on 2 July, marks the National Year of Reading 2026 and offers young writers the chance to have their winning entries read aloud at the Snap Dragon Children and Family Festival in August and displayed in Hinckley Library.
The competition sits alongside a wider push to get residents turning pages, with the council also running a book exchange at Hinckley Leisure Centre and The George Ward Centre in Barwell. People can pick up a book or leave one without needing to swap. Cllr Robin Webber-Jones, the borough council’s Children and Young People’s Champion, said reading is fundamental in a child’s future success and the authority will champion reading across the borough not only for 2026 but also beyond.
The National Year of Reading was launched by the Department for Education with the National Literacy Trust in January at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Described as the biggest campaign in a generation to help people rediscover the joy of reading, its focus includes improving outcomes for Early Years children, boys aged 10-16 and disadvantaged communities. Cllr Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said the council is working to reach residents experiencing homelessness or living in temporary accommodation. The book exchange, which started in April, will also appear at council-run events throughout the year, including St George’s Day celebrations, Feast Hinckley and the Snap Dragon Festival.
The Snap Dragon Children’s Festival runs from 3 to 5 August at Argents Mead, open from 11:00 to 15:00 with free entry. Alongside the winning story readings, families can enjoy garden games, a giant sandpit, a craft tent and bandstand entertainment. Cllr Mark Bools, Deputy Leader of the Borough Council, pointed to National Literacy Trust figures showing only a third of children aged eight to 18 enjoy reading in their spare time, underlining why the competition and exchanges aim to build a lasting reading culture in the town.
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