In 2026, we’re turning the page together and getting ready to Go All In on the National Year of Reading. Here are Capital Crime we’re reaching out to you, our trusted readers, to join us as we celebrate this exciting initiative and invite new people into our much-loved community.

The National Year of Reading is a nationwide celebration of stories, imagination and the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book — championing reading as a lifelong habit that connects communities, builds confidence and opens doors. Supported by the Department for Education, the Literacy Trust, and a host of partners across schools, libraries, and communities, the campaign is bringing reading to life like never before. You can find out how to get involved by clicking the ‘GO ALL IN’ picture below.

Capital Crime has been the proud home of our Social Outreach Initiative since we first opened our doors in 2019. Our goal remains to promote literacy and demystify the publishing industry by giving young people the opportunity to meet, hear and engage with publishing representatives and authors. This year in honour of the National Year of Reading we need your help to make it bigger and better than ever before. If you know of any young people or school representatives that would interesting in benefiting from our Social Outreach initiative please get in touch with us!

Do you represent a state-funded school in Greater London and recognise students who could have a successful career in the publishing world?

Capital Crime is proud to call London its home. Capital Crime founder David Headley and Festival Director, Lizzie Curle, are aware that many talented London students may not realise that a career as an author or working in publishing is a realistic goal, and for that reason, we created the Capital Crime Social Outreach Initiative.

We invite ten state-funded schools in and around the capital to select two sixth-form students with some interest and ability in creative writing.  We ask those 20 students and their teachers to attend a seminar evening in Central London, where they have the opportunity to hear from authors and publishing professionals and understand how they might be able to pursue careers in writing or publishing.

Those 20 students are also given complimentary day passes to attend Capital Crime Festival with full access to all the panels and the opportunity to meet established authors and publishing professionals.

We hope it’s experience and exposure that will help broaden the mind and attract new and diverse voices to publishing.

If you represent a state-funded school in the Greater London area and would like to be considered for the programme, please email us.