Volunteers needed to help boost reading enjoyment for children in Wolverhampton
A national reading charity is urgently calling on volunteers to help bring the magic of books to primary school children.
Coram Beanstalk is looking for reading helpers to lend a hand in schools in Wolverhampton.
Once trained and placed in a school, they will support children aged five to 13 through weekly sessions and over one academic year to read well - not just through recognising the words but through the enjoyment of sharing books together, chatting about them and developing deeper understanding of the story.
Ginny Lunn of Coram Beanstalk said: “Coram Beanstalk volunteers help encourage, motivate and support children in a way that helps them feel positive about their reading and sets them up for success.
"Our reading helpers work with children who, for a variety of reasons, don’t feel confident around books and would benefit from weekly sessions outside of the classroom with someone who can help ‘open the door’ to reading.
"Our vision is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to become confident and able readers and we know that the first step to achieving this is through encouraging a love of books at an early age."
Previous experience is not required as full training is provided by the charity. Coram Beanstalk just needs volunteers to have a passion for passing on a love of reading to children.
Jordan Boughey 18, is one of the charity’s youngest volunteers and has been volunteering with Coram Beanstalk for over six months.
He knows first-hand the difference a little extra help can make after experiencing trouble of his own when learning to read.
“I struggled with quite a lot of my reading as a child. I did get a lot of one-to-one support from teaching assistants. Coram Beanstalk is there to show that reading can be fun and that reading shouldn’t be seen as a chore.”
Anyone who is interested in volunteering can apply at www.corambeanstalk.org.uk or call 020 7729 4087.
