Help a local child learn to read
Start a new chapter this January and help a local child learn to read
More than 1 in 3 children in Camden are growing up in poverty, which is having an impact on their literacy skills and opportunities. The current literacy problem in London is huge, with 8 children in an average class leaving primary school last year unable to read well.
Bookmark are looking for volunteers in the Hampstead area to join their team this term and give essential extra support to local pupils.
As a volunteer you visit your nearest school, twice a week for half an hour, to help the same child, age 5 – 8, develop their reading skills and confidence.
“Volunteer with Bookmark and help a child like me learn to read”
Claire joined Bookmark last term:
“The first child I worked with was a long way behind his peers when it came to reading. For him, the only decent ways to spend time is skateboarding. So, I brought a couple of books about it from the library… Suddenly, I think he realised that books weren’t something you were just forced to read at school. They could be a means of finding out more about something you loved, and the possibilities were limitless.”
By discovering that reading can be enjoyable, children are able to benefit from the extra support, long after the sessions are over. The National Literacy Trust found that children who like reading are five times as likely to read above their level than their peers, whilst studies show that people who read for pleasure have higher self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations.
Since Bookmark was founded last year, teachers have jumped at the chance for extra classroom support, with the programme available at six schools locally and 21 others across inner London.
Kitty Higgins, CEO of Bookmark, comments:
“We are so pleased to be working in Hampstead, training local residents to support local children who are struggling to learn to read. Reading is so much more than just enjoying books. It is absolutely essential skill for succeeding in education and employment, and we know that adults who struggle to read are more likely to have health problems, low confidence, and even a shorter life expectancy. We hope that more local people in the area will volunteer with Bookmark so that we can ensure that children here aren’t held back by lacking such a fundamental skill.”
Bookmark have created an app to make volunteering more accessible and flexible than traditional roles. On the Bookmark app, you can choose which school you want to support and pick sessions at times that suit you, either at the beginning of the school day or during the afternoon. So, whether you live or work in Hampstead, why not start a new chapter this January and spend one hour a week helping a child in your neighbourhood get the support they need.