At a Glance
- A free, fun online winter reading challenge for children
- Borrow three books, log them online, and unlock digital rewards
- Certificates available from Southend libraries up until City Day (7 March)
- Part of wider National Year of Reading 2026 celebrations
Time to unlock your youngsters’ imagination with an exciting new reading challenge!
Southend Libraries are calling on all young bookworms to take part in the Winter Mini Challenge 2026 b a fun and free online initiative that encourages children to keep reading over the winter holidays.
Kick off the challenge by borrowing any three books, then log them online at wintermini.org.uk. To make the experience even more fun, kids can take part in these online activities: create an avatar, unlock a digital badge each time they read a book, receive fantastic reading suggestions, and even enter a prize draw to win some amazing books.
Your children will cheer with joy when they unlock digital rewards and collect a Certificate of Achievement from any Southend library, once they have read three books. The certificate can be collected up until 7 March (City Day).
The initiative is a great confidence booster and a brilliant way to keep the magic of reading alive.
Cllr Matt Dent, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture, Music and Tourism, agrees:
“As an avid reader, I fully support this fantastic initiative by Southend Libraries, and I hope it will lead to a rise in the number of books loaned out by our brilliant libraries. My favourite book to read as a child was The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.
“Reading has helped broaden my understanding of the world, and I know it can benefit people of all ages in our Southend communities. This is not just about rediscovering the joys of reading – it’s about helping you build connections, support your wellbeing, grow your knowledge and find moments of joy in everyday life.
“As part of the council’s 2026/2027 safeguarding services proposed budget, we are proposing that all library services and family centres remain open, with proposed investment in additional staff for libraries and museums and a £125k investment in upgrading the Planetarium.”
But it’s not only children who are being encouraged to read in 2026.
The UK-wide campaign National Year of Reading 2026 “Go All In” by the Department of Education (DfE) wants to inspire the nation—young and old—to go all in on their passions through reading. Sports, music, architecture, cooking, dancing, diving… whatever makes your heart flutter, if you’re into it, read into it!
When we say “read,” there is no wrong way to do it: Go online, listen in, or turn the page. Our inclusive and accessible library shelves and digital collections are stocked with e-books, newspapers, magazines, maps, archive materials, audiobooks and printed books. Southend Libraries have it all.
Though the campaign is for everyone to celebrate and benefit from reading, three specific target audiences have been defined by DfE as parents of children under five (early years), boys aged 10-16, and families from disadvantaged communities.
There’s more to come soon
Southend Libraries is planning a magical line-up of fairy tale activities, to be announced soon and launched during February half-term week (16 to 21 February). Keep your eyes and ears peeled on our social media channels and websites for more updates.
For further information about the National Year of Reading, please visit: Go All In website.
For more information about the Winter Mini Challenge see www.wintermini.org.uk and contact library@southend.gov.uk for further information.