The National Literacy Trust and the Bupa Foundation came together to create a project that would promote a love of reading, support wellbeing, encourage physical activity, and give a voice to the Salford community.

The Salford Literacy Trail brought all of these ideas together – a unique collaboration between local artists and school children, inspired by the books they love and how reading makes them feel. Walking along the trail, families can explore their local city and experience the voices of the children who designed the BookBenches.

Children who are most engaged with reading are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing that children who are the least engaged. The Salford Literacy Trail aims to create an environment where every child in Salford has the opportunity to engage with stories and books that reflect their lives, offer them comfort, or an exciting escape.

Bupa Foundation, a charity funded entirely by Bupa UK who have their largest office in Salford, run and help fund practical projects that have a positive impact on children and young people’s mental health. Their purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world and The Salford Literacy Trail is a great example of this.