Latest news with #KarenSimpson
Scottish Sun
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Ten legal ways to pay less tax including the saving method that's free and easy – and our tips could save YOU £1,000s
Karen Simpson used a five-minute trick to shave thousands of pounds off her tax bill. Plus, how a little-known loophole could save you £250 TAXING TIMES Ten legal ways to pay less tax including the saving method that's free and easy – and our tips could save YOU £1,000s NO ONE likes handing over their hard-earned money to the taxman - but could you be giving away too much? You don't need to be rich to cut your tax bill as there are plenty of tricks to reduce how much you pay now, regardless of your income. Top money journalist Holly Mead explains how. Advertisement 4 We reveal how you can legally pay less tax and keep more of your earnings Credit: Getty 4 Starting a side hustle could help you to pay less tax by using a key loophole Credit: Getty 4 Plus if you are married then you could save money through a tax perk Credit: Alamy 4 We all know tax evasion is a crime, but there are many legal ways to keep more of your well-earned money. Advertisement If you are an average earner with an income of less than £50,270 then you could save £2,700 a year with our tips. Or if you're lucky enough to earn more than this, then our tricks can save you £2,912 annually on cars and childcare. Plus, if you've been lucky in love, then you could make use of a little-known loophole to save £252. Read on to find out ten ways you can cut your tax bill NOW as we share our top tips to get started. Average earners Become a savvy saver Many people don't realise they may need to pay tax on the interest they earn from their savings. Advertisement Basic rate taxpayers get an annual savings allowance of £1,000, but if you earn more interest than that, you'll pay your usual rate of income tax on it. That means someone with £20,000 in savings earning 5% interest would reach the limit. Meanwhile, for higher-rate taxpayers, the allowance drops to £500. But lower earners get a £5,000 allowance, called the starting rate for savings, so if one person in your household earns below £12,570, then you should take advantage of this. At that rate, you could have a massive £100,000 in savings before you'd bust the limit. Advertisement Avoiding paying 20% tax on that extra £4,000 of savings could save you £800. For every £1 you earn above £12,570, you lose £1 of this extra savings allowance. Meanwhile, the allowance disappears completely once you earn £17,570. How much do I have to give the taxman? EVERYONE in the UK has a personal allowance, which means they can earn £12,570 each tax year before paying any income tax. The tax year runs from April 6 to April 5. You pay income tax at 20% on any money that you earn between £12,571 and £50,270. This is known as the basic rate. On earnings between £50,271 and £125,140 you pay 40%, which is called the higher rate. Meanwhile, the additional tax band is currently fixed at £125,140, beyond which any earnings are taxed at 45%. The tax applies to your salary and any income you earn on savings and investments (unless they are in an Isa) or from a buy-to-let property. Income tax bands are frozen until April 2028 but wages have continued to rise, which means you are probably paying more tax than you used to. This could get even worse, with tax rises expected to come in the Autumn Budget. A higher tax bill coupled with a rising cost of living means even less money in your pocket. That's why it is important to make sure you are using all of the legitimate loopholes that can help you pay less tax. Sarah Pennells, head of financial capability at Royal London, said: 'Ultimately, tax can be confusing. Our research found that 37% of people had received higher tax bills than they had expected in the past.' 'Being aware of the different cliff edges, tax charges and allowances is important. Small changes could make a big difference.' Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell, said: 'This trick is particularly handy for couples where one has a low income, but as a household they have a decent amount in savings.' Potential saving: £800 Advertisement Get a flatmate If you have a spare room at home, you can earn up to £7,500 a year by renting it out without paying any tax. For a basic rate taxpayer, that would mean a saving of £1,500 on that income. Meanwhile, a higher-rate taxpayer would save a whopping £3,000. The government's rent-a-room scheme is designed to encourage people to rent out spare space, increasing the number of rooms available for those who need them. The room needs to be fully furnished to qualify, and you don't need to own your home to use this tax break. Advertisement If you are renting, then check your rental agreement before you look for a tenant. If you earn more than £7,500 from renting in a year, you need to declare it on a self-assessment tax return. Bear in mind that this allowance is per household, not per individual, so if you're in a couple, you effectively get £3,750 each. Potential saving: £1,500 I've saved thousands with a five minute trick MUM-OF-TWO Karen Simpson has saved thousands of pounds by boosting her pension contributions to reduce her tax bill. The 43-year-old, from Inverness, said paying more into her pension has helped her to avoid tipping into the 40% higher-rate income tax bracket. The busy mum said that doing this has saved her thousands of pounds in tax. Karen, who runs tutoring company My Primary and Secondary Tutor, said: 'A few years ago, I didn't even have a pension and now I'm paying between £18,000 and £25,000 into it each year." Although increasing her pension contributions means Karen has less money now, she said she doesn't need the extra income right away. As a result, she's happy to lock the cash away in her self-invested personal pension until she can access it when she is 55. Karen said: "When you're self-employed, you need to save as much of your money as you can and look for the loopholes. "Otherwise, it feels like they want more from you at every turn." Karen has maxed out her £20,000 Isa allowance this year after hearing rumours that it could be cut in the Autumn Budget. She has also cut her tax bill by donating to charity, selling items on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Meanwhile, when she was on maternity leave, she made use of the marriage allowance. Karen said: 'As soon as you hit the 40% income tax bracket, it feels as though you're giving your money away. "Taking these steps makes a significant difference.' Start a side hustle If you have a hobby or side business, you can make extra income tax-free. Advertisement Everyone gets a trading allowance, which lets them earn up to £1,000 from a side hustle without paying any tax. This could be from tutoring, selling arts and crafts or dog-sitting. On top of this, you also get a property allowance of £1,000 for income earned from your home, including renting out your driveway or garage. Maxing out both allowances would save you £400 in tax on the extra income. Potential saving: £400 Advertisement Higher earners Give yourself a pay cut Just got a pay rise? Congratulations! But if your new salary means you are now a higher-rate taxpayer, you might want to reduce your pay. This is because you'll pay 40% tax on every £1 earned above £50,270. Meanwhile, parents earning above £60,000 face an added blow because they start to lose their child benefit. If you can afford to, putting more money into your pension can help in both of these cases. Advertisement For example, if you earned £55,000, you would pay 40% tax on £4,730 of that, giving you a take-home pay of £42,457 a year (assuming no deductions), and a total income tax bill of £9,432. Instead, if you put that £4,730 into a pension, you would have take-home pay of £39,619 and pay £7,540 income tax. Although your take-home pay is £2,838 lower, you'll have saved £1,892 in tax. Plus, by doing this, you've put thousands of pounds into a pension which can grow over time and help give you a comfortable retirement. If that £4,730 grew at 6% a year, after ten years it could be worth £8,606. Advertisement Robert Salter, director at the accountancy Blick Rothenberg, says: 'Topping up your pension is a prime way to potentially reduce your tax bill and, equally importantly, save for retirement.' Potential saving: £1,892 Make work pay Salary sacrifice is where you agree to a lower salary in exchange for certain workplace benefits. This can help workers on the cusp of the 40% income tax band bring their salary back into the lower tax band. Cycle-to-work schemes are one option, says Chris Etherington, a private client partner at accountancy RSM UK. Advertisement This is where you purchase a bike through your employer. The purchase is considered 'gross', meaning before tax, so you effectively save the tax on the cost of the bike. How do I check my tax code? YOU can check your tax code on your personal tax account online, on any payslips or on the HMRC app. To log in, visit If you have one, you can also check it on a "Tax Code Notice" letter from HMRC. Bear in mind that you might need your Government Gateway ID and password to hand to log in. But if you don't have this you can use your National Insurance number or postcode and two of the following: A valid UK passport A UK photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland) A payslip from the last three months or a P60 from your employer for the last tax year Details of a tax credit claim if you have made one Details from a self assessment tax return (in the last two years) if you made one Information held on your credit record if you have one (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages) With the electric car scheme, some employers let you lease an electric vehicle (EV) through the company, so you don't pay tax on the monthly payment. For example, if the lease was £300 a month, a basic rate taxpayer would save £60 in tax on it. 'Cycle to work schemes can be an effective, albeit modest, way to reduce commuting costs and your taxable income,' says Etherington. Advertisement 'Electric car schemes offer significant savings on income tax and make EVs more accessible to middle earners.' Potential saving: £720 (on a £300 monthly lease) Make your money work for you Around 822,000 savings accounts are set to earn more than £1,000 in interest this year, according to Paragon Bank. This means a surprise tax bill could be on the way for these savers. The easiest way to avoid paying tax on your savings is with an Isa. Advertisement You can put up to £20,000 a year into these accounts and any gains you make are tax-free. A basic rate taxpayer with savings of £25,000 earning 5%, would make £1,250 in interest and pay tax on £250 of this - £50. A higher rate payer would pay 40% tax on £750 of this interest - a tax bill of £300. But if you put the money into an Isa there would be no tax bill. Andrew Wright, head of savings at Paragon Bank, said: 'Many savers have had a great return on their savings but could ultimately breach their personal savings allowance as a result. Advertisement "Review your accounts and make the most of other products such as cash Isas.' Potential saving: £300 Married couples Team up with your spouse If one of you earns less than £12,570 a year and the other earns less than £50,270, you can take advantage of the marriage allowance. This lets the lower earner transfer 10% of their £12,570 personal allowance to their spouse - which works out at £1,260. Do I need to pay tax on my side hustle income? MANY people feeling strapped for cash are boosting their bank balance with a side hustle. The good news is, there are plenty of simple ways to earn some additional income - but you need to know the rules. When you're employed the company you work for takes the tax from your earnings and pays HMRC so you don't have to. But anyone earning extra cash, for example from selling things online or dog walking, may have to do it themselves. Stephen Moor, head of employment at law firm Ashfords, said: "Caution should be taken if you're earning an additional income, as this is likely to be taxable. "The side hustle could be treated as taxable trading income, which can include providing services or selling products." You can make a gross income of up to £1,000 a year tax-free via the trading allowance, but over this and you'll usually need to pay tax. Stephen added: "You need to register for a self-assessment at HMRC to ensure you are paying the correct amount of tax. "The applicable tax bands and the amount of tax you need to pay will depend on your income." If you fail to file a tax return you could end up with a surprise bill from HMRC later on asking you to pay the tax you owe - plus extra fees on top. This effectively boosts your spouse's personal allowance to £13,830, and so saves them £252 in tax a year. Advertisement Good news if you've not heard this tip before: you can backdate it by four years and potentially save £1,008. An estimated 2million people who are eligible for this tax break are not claiming it - check if you qualify using the government's calculator: Potential saving: £252 Save money on childcare Families can claim up to £2,000 from the government to help with childcare costs through a lesser-known savings scheme. You can put up to £500 into a tax-free childcare account every three months, and for every £8 you pay in, the government will add £2. Advertisement The cash can be used to pay your nursery or childminder. To claim, both parents must be working and earn at least the minimum wage for a minimum of 16 hours a week. You have until the September after your child turns 11 to claim and spend the money. Those with a disabled child can claim up to £4,000 a year, and have until they are 16 to claim it. Potential saving: £2,000 (or £4,000 for parents of disabled children) Advertisement Split the bill Sharing your savings and other assets could half your tax bill. For example, if you have savings in a joint account then each person's savings allowance is applied before tax is paid - even if one person didn't contribute any of the savings. That means you can earn £2,000 in interest tax-free, rather than the usual £1,000, as long as you are both basic rate taxpayers. Robert Salter says: 'If a bank savings account is in both partners' names, the interest is taxable on a 50/50 basis. If one person pays tax or a higher rate of tax, and the other doesn't, it may be better to have the savings in the name of the lower-earning spouse.' Advertisement This also works if you own a buy-to-let property. If the property is in both partner's names then you share the tax you owe on the rental income, and could reduce your bill by having it in the lower earning spouse's name. This is also useful when you sell the property as you can use each person's annual capital gains tax (CGT) allowance on any profits before paying tax. Currently, individuals get a CGT allowance of £3,000 a year, and after that you pay 18% tax (or 24% for higher rate payers). For example, if you bought a property for £150,000 and sold it for £200,000, you would need to pay tax on the £50,000 profit. Advertisement After deducting the £3,000 CGT allowance, that would mean paying 18% tax on £47,000, which is £8,460. But if the property were held in two people's names, you would subtract each person's CGT allowance. You would pay 18% on £44,000, which would mean your tax bill is £7,920. Potential saving: £540 on the property sale Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Advertisement Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Will new school rules help cut violence in the classroom?
The best time to teach a child not to throw a chair in a classroom is not as it is being projected across the what an educational psychologist told me last week as we discussed how teachers should respond to disruptive behaviour in people in education agree building positive relationships is the key to preventing violence in schools but teachers say they also need to be able to use "consequences" as the past few months I've spoken to dozens of teachers who say the balance between "nurture" and consequences has been no-one wants to have a chair thrown at them. In response to concerns from teachers, the Scottish government has now published guidance for schools on how to deal with violent and aggressive behaviour from the Conservatives dismissed it as "waffle", saying it gives no clear instructions on when and how to exclude violent or disruptive pupils. What's the problem? Karen Simpson taught in a primary school in Inverness for 14 years but in 2018 she quit to become a said she loved the job but there was a "gradual" erosion of a teacher's ability to use boundaries that made it impossible to maintain story chimes with the stories of so many leaving the profession because the classroom behaviour has become too difficult, too overwhelming. Parents too have told me their children are too nervous to go to school. They say their kids are traumatised by the disruptive behaviour of other pupils who have repeatedly got away with swearing or violence and faced no boundaries. Some call for a return to the days of corporal punishment in schools, when unruly children were disciplined by "the tawse".It was outlawed in the 1980s in Scotland, for very good reasons, but some think the pendulum has swung too far with many councils focusing on the principles of "nurture". What does the new guidance say? For low-level disruptive behaviour the guidance suggests a range of include offering children "an alternative activity to the rest of the class that allows the child to regulate their emotions or behaviour" or asking the pupil to "take a break for a short time". The guidance also suggests access to learning support for pupils struggling to regulate their behaviour. But teachers have told me there is already not enough learning support in different levels of difficult behaviour the appendix to the guidelines suggests different staged children who are being violent one consequence is to give them a laminated piece of paper with bullet points reminding them how to behave and step away. Other inventions include keeping the child in school but taking them to a different area to allow them to calm down. What about exclusions from school? For years there has been a presumption against removing kids from at Edinburgh University found that being expelled from school massively impacts young people's life chances in all the worst dramatically cut its exclusions as did many other local in recent times teachers have been expressing growing concerns about some local authorities and schools misinterpreting the nurture principles by removing all or any her foreword to the guidance, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said exclusion should only be used as a "last resort".The guidance says exclusion can be used in response to violence or anti-social behaviour, saying this measure can "allow matters to calm, time for planning, meeting with parents etc". What was the reaction to the guidelines? Teachers' unions have broadly welcomed the new guidelines but the EIS said they won't solve the behavioural problems in schools without significantly more resources and staff to support Secretary Jenny Gilruth said they will empower teachers in the face of rising levels of disruption and emotional dysregulation. However, Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said they were a pathetic response to the epidemic of violence in Scottish said: "Teachers are still being given no clear rules on when and how they can exclude violent or disruptive pupils."Jenny Gilruth only mentions it as a last resort. Instead teachers are being fed waffle about eye-contact, hand signals and merits."These are utterly insufficient for dealing with the extreme behaviour that we've seen recently in classrooms up and down the country."Rather than clear rules, this document is full of Holyrood blob buzzwords about multi-agency processes, positivity and inclusion."
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Brighter future for learners as AVBOB literacy campaign expands reach
AMONG this year's beneficiaries of the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA), are Alipore Primary School, ML Sultan St Mary's Primary School and Wentworth Primary School. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that improves access to books in communities across the country, with a focus on schools and NPOs. Also read: Find your best words: AVBOB poetry competition entries open in August The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on May 29. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1 000 mobile libraries includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500 000, up from 250 000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet (CEO of AVBOB Group), Karen Simpson (MD of OUPSA), Gugu Ndebele (executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls), the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube remarked: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Also read: Literacy workshop helps start discussions on promoting reading Simpson added that the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8 661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity.' 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose driven.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
03-06-2025
- Business
- eNCA
AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign gives hope to 1 000 schools and NGOs through trolley libraries
SPONSORED - The 1,000 beneficiaries of the 2025 AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA) are announced. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that continues to improve access to books in communities across South Africa, with a focus on schools and non-profit organisations (NPOs). The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on 29 May 2025. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at the foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1,000 mobile library includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500,000, up from 250,000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet (CEO of AVBOB Group), Karen Simpson (MD of OUPSA), Gugu Ndebele (Executive Director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls), the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube remarked: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Simpson added that the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' Each trolley library is valued at R57,000, bringing the total investment for the 2025 campaign to R57 million. The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8,661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity.' 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose-driven.' He added that AVBOB, as a mutual society, exists for the benefit of its members and the wider community. 'At AVBOB, giving back to communities is more than a commitment — it's a core part of who we are. We remain deeply guided by our founders' promise of always putting people first, a principle that continues to be the golden thread in everything we do. Through the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact.' Adding to this sentiment during the 29 May 2025 panel discussion, Ndebele said, 'We believe that education is the most powerful tool for changing a learners' future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency and opportunity. We are inspired by this initiative's focus, and we hope it will ignite a lifelong love of reading in every child who encounters one of these trolley libraries.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. Despite this, access to books in African languages remains limited, especially in underfunded schools. The Road to Literacy campaign helps address this gap, ensuring that the joy of reading, and the practical foundation of numeracy, is not restricted by geography or circumstance. Editor's notes: The complete list of the 1,000 beneficiaries of the 2025 Road to Literacy campaign are as follows:
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Avbob R57m literacy drive: 1 000 mobile libraries delivered to schools and NGOs
The 1 000 beneficiaries of the 2025 Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (Oupsa), have been announced. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that continues to improve access to books in communities across South Africa, with a focus on schools and NPOs. The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg last Thursday. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at the foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year in 2022. Each of the 1 000 mobile libraries includes 500 Oupsa books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. This year, more than 500 000 will be distributed, up from 250 000 last year. Books for reading enjoyment are also included. Speaking at the event, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority – the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Karen Simpson, the MD of Oupsa, said the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' Each trolley library is valued at R57 000, bringing the total investment for the 2025 campaign to R57m. The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8 661 nominations for trolley libraries from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Avbob CEO Carl van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity and dignity. 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The Avbob Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose-driven.' He added that Avbob, as a mutual society, exists for the benefit of its members and the wider community. 'At Avbob, giving back to communities is more than a commitment – it's a core part of who we are. We remain deeply guided by our founders' promise of always putting people first, a principle that continues to be the golden thread in everything we do. Through the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact.' Adding to this sentiment, Gugu Ndebele, the executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, said, 'We believe that education is the most powerful tool for changing a learner's future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency and opportunity. We are inspired by this initiative's focus, and we hope it will ignite a lifelong love of reading in every child who encounters one of these trolley libraries.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library Programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. Despite this, access to books in African languages remains limited, especially in underfunded schools. The Road to Literacy campaign helps address this gap, ensuring that the joy of reading and the practical foundation of numeracy are not restricted by geography or circumstance. For the full list of beneficiaries, click here. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
