What is Empathy Day?

Empathy Day was founded in 2017 as part of our mission to inspire the rising generation and to drive a new empathy movement.

Empathy is a vital human force which has come into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic and we’ve never needed it more. Empathy Day aims to help everyone understand and experience the transformational power of empathy through stories.

The day focuses on using books to step into someone else’s shoes. Scientists say that we can train our brain with stories – the more you empathise with characters, the more you understand other people’s feelings.

Each Empathy Day, we run online events and fun home-based activities to help children read, connect and act using empathy. Authors, illustrators, schools, libraries, and families across the UK take part, supported by our downloadable community toolkits and family activity pack.