National children’s literacy charity Beanstalk with offices in Aycliffe has issued an urgent call for heroes to come forward during National Volunteering Week (1st-7th June) to help transform the life of a child in need in their local community.
Last year, more than 5000 children across County Durham left primary school unable to read to the required level. Beanstalk, which is part of the Read On, Get On coalition, aims to overcome this urgent issue through providing one-to-one reading support through volunteer reading helpers.
Beanstalk reading helpers are heroes to the children they help, improving their reading ability, transforming their confidence, and allowing them to reach their true potential.
Janet Skeen, Beanstalk Manager for North East and Yorkshire said: “At Beanstalk we want to ensure that each and every child has the ability and confidence to reach their true potential. This can be only achieved with the support of the local community and the dedication of our excellent reading helpers who transform the lives of the children they work with.
However, there are many more children in County Durham who require a reading hero so if you believe that you can make reading enjoyable rather than feared, we urge you contact us and find out how you be a hero to a child.”
Each Beanstalk reading helper supports three children and sees each child for two 30 minute sessions a week, during term-time, for three terms. With Beanstalk’s support, the child’s approach to learning and enjoying reading is transformed. 93% of all children supported by Beanstalk reading helpers make meaningful improvement in their reading ability.
To find out more, or to become a Beanstalk reading helper, call Beanstalk on 020 7729 4087 or visit http://www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk/reading-helpers