Experian and Alesha Dixon launch ‘The Library of No Returns’ to help children write better stories later in life

Experian, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, is launching The Library of No Returns – a fairytale-inspired pop-up designed to spark excitement around reading, remove barriers to books, and highlight the powerful link between childhood literacy and future financial health.

Supported by Britain’s Got Talent star and children’s author, Alesha Dixon, the Library of No Returns brings to life a simple idea – reading stories earlier in life can help better your story later in life – and follows new insights which reveals the extent poor literacy levels blight communities across the country.

New analysis by Experian of millions of Britons’ credit profiles, alongside data on every UK constituency’s vulnerability to low literacy[1] reveals a strong correlation between the two, suggesting financial capability is closely linked to reading and comprehension skills. In constituencies with the highest vulnerability to low literacy, average credit scores are between 6% and 12% below the national average of 850.

The findings are reinforced by National Literacy Trust research showing that children with strong reading skills are four times more likely to have good financial skills than children with poor literacy (35.6% vs 8.8%).2 Conversely, children in the bottom quartile of reading ability are more than six times more likely to fall into the bottom quartile of financial capability.

Alesha Dixon, Campaign Ambassador, said: “Reading and writing opened doors for me long before I understood money or credit scores. I had to teach myself those skills later in life.

“If we can help children fall in love with books now, we’re not just inspiring imagination – we’re helping build the confidence and skills that shape their financial futures. That’s why I’m proud to support The Library of No Returns with Experian and the National Literacy Trust.”

The Library of No Returns pop-up will transform Pelsall Community Centre in Walsall into an immersive storytelling environment where families can browse a curated selection of books, enjoy live readings and take a book home to keep. Alesha Dixon will host storytelling sessions for children on the day, alongside authors Steve Antony and Monika Singh Gangotra.

Throughout the day, Experian experts will also be on hand to offer parents and carers informal guidance to help build financial confidence, with tea and coffee available to create a welcoming space for conversation.

John Webb, Head of Consumer Affairs at Experian UK&I, said: “People often think of literacy and financial wellbeing as separate issues, but they are closely connected. If children are supported to build strong reading skills early on, they are better placed to understand the world around them, make informed decisions and feel confident managing money later in life.

“At Experian, we’re committed to helping people build their financial confidence so that they’re better equipped to make smart money moves. That starts with understanding what shapes financial confidence in the first place. Through our partnership with the National Literacy Trust, we want to help more children access books, enjoy reading and build foundations that can open up better opportunities in the future.”

The campaign comes at a time when access to books and enjoyment of reading are under pressure. One in 10 children aged 5 to 18 do not have a book of their own at home3, rising to one in six in the most disadvantaged communities. Just 33% of children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time4 – the lowest level since 2005.

Library of No Returns forms part of a wider campaign that will see more than 5,000 books distributed to communities with lower literacy levels, with further book drops planned in Stoke, Merthyr Tydfil and Nottingham following the Walsall launch.

A supporting donation drive will also run through The Big Give, with Experian matching donations to raise further funds for the National Literacy Trust’s work in communities that need it most. A group of influencers relevant to millennial parents will support the campaign by attending the event and helping raise awareness of the wider issue of low literacy and its impact on children’s futures.

Jason Vit, National Literacy Trust, said: “Experian’s literacy vulnerability score has been pivotal in helping the National Literacy Trust target the areas in which we focus our place-based approach, supporting children and families who are facing the biggest literacy challenges.

“Together, we’ve been able to empower millions of children with the literacy skills they need to thrive, including getting books to children and young people who may not have any at home. Today’s activity in Walsall is a fantastic example of how we work with the local community to engage families with reading for pleasure, which supports a child’s literacy skills and can benefit their confidence, wellbeing, academic attainment, and even their financial literacy later in life.”