Can you help children read?

Beanstalk is a national literacy charity that recruits, vets, trains and supports volunteers to work in primary schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading. Our vision is a nation of confident children who can read and grow up to lead successful lives.

We are currently looking for volunteers in Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire and would like you to consider volunteering for us. Alternatively, you may wish to pass our details to someone you know, who might wish to volunteer for us.

As a Beanstalk reading helper, you will work with children on a one-to-one basis, giving them your full attention and support to improve reading levels, increase overall confidence and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

You will work with three children and see each child for two 30 minute sessions a week, during term-time, for a whole year. Together, you will read, play and talk. With your support the child's approach to learning and enjoying reading will be transformed.

We work (in areas of deprivation) across England through 17 branches in the North, Midlands, Greater London and Kent. We have over 80 staff and more than 2,100 volunteers, who support over 6,000 children a year, but there is still much more we can do. Our aim is to reach out to 10,000 children by 2016 but to do this we urgently need more volunteers.

In Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire we have 90 volunteers supporting 75 schools, and currently we work in partnership with a number of local authorities supporting the Council's children in care.

Volunteering as a Beanstalk reading helper is extremely rewarding, makes a lasting difference to children's lives and is a great way to give something back to your local community.

For more information, please contact Gail Washington, Volunteer Services Manager at the Stoke & Cheshire branch at gail.washington@beanstalkcharity.org.uk or visit www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk where you can apply online.

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