Resources

Are you organising an event? We have a selection of resources to help you promote it and get the word out!

• Download the National Crime Reading Month logo, for your newsletter or website
• Try out our easy-to-use Canva templates and make your own social media posts and printable posters.
• If you’re writing about NCRM online, use our Supporting Blogger badge
• We’ve written a press release template for your local paper, radio, community page or local news blog – just download the Word doc and fill in the blanks
• And don’t forget to read our tips on organising and programming events!

We’d love you to get creative and find ways to bring new crime books to readers, as well as look at old favourites. If you have a great idea, don’t forget we want to hear from you!

NCRM Canva Templates

Ready to promote your event or latest book release during National Crime Reading Month? Our Canva templates make it easy to make your own professional, on-brand social media assets and printable posters, with zero effort. We have used Canva, which is free – and straightforward – to use.

Clicking on any of the links below will generate your own editable template that you can use as you wish. If you’re not sure how Canva works, full instructions are further down the page.

Templates

Social Post – for Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky or even your personal website.
​Social Reel or Story – for Facebook and Instagram Reels and Stories.
A4 Poster – for printing or sharing online.

Instructions

Once you’ve created your free Canva account…

How to Use/Open a Template Link

1. Click the link to open it in your browser.
2. Click “use template’”.
3. A copy of the design will instantly be added to your Canva account.

How to Add Your Own Photos

1. Click the Uploads tab on the far-left sidebar, then click “upload files” to select a photo from your computer or phone.
2. Click and hold your uploaded photo, drag it over to the template, and let go. You can now drag it around or pull the corners to resize it.

How to Edit Text

1. Double-click on any text box to highlight the words.
2. Simply start typing to replace the placeholder text.

Why Can’t I Move Some Things?

1. You might notice that some parts of the design (like backgrounds, logos, or borders) don’t move when you click them.
2. These items are locked to ensure the layout stays professional and doesn’t change while you’re editing.
3. If you click something and see a small padlock icon, it is locked.
4. If you must change it, you can click the element and then click the padlock icon in the top toolbar to unlock it, but we recommend leaving them as they are to keep the design’s integrity.

Saving Your Work

1. Canva saves your progress automatically every few seconds.
2. Once you are finished, click “share” in the top right corner.
3. Click “download”.
4. Choose your file type (usually PNG for social media or PDF Print for printing) and hit the download button.