A leading literacy charity needs more volunteers to help struggling children — and has taken the opportunity of World Book Day to urge people to get involved.
Beanstalk normally sends helpers into schools to read one-to-one with a child twice a week for a total of three hours. However, it said volunteers can divide that time with a “buddy”, with each visiting the school once a week.
Chief executive Ginny Lunn said: “We often attract people who say they would love to volunteer but they don’t have the time. Three hours a week is sometimes too much. We know we ask a lot of time of people and for some people it works better to become a ‘buddy’ and go into school once a week instead of twice.”
Many children were dressing as their favourite characters for World Book Day, although some schools have cancelled celebrations due to the weather.
In the West End, the cast of The Grinning Man took to the stage of Trafalgar Studios with works by Victor Hugo, whose 1869 novel L’homme qui rit inspired the musical.
Beanstalk, which was at the heart of the Evening Standard’s Get London Reading campaign, has 900 volunteers in the capital and needs to recruit 400 more — or 800 “buddy” volunteers — by July. It will today celebrate World Book Day at City Hall and thank its existing volunteers.
Research has revealed that only 52 per cent of London children aged eight to 11 read with someone at home, compared with 53 per cent across England.
Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, said: “We know that a love of reading can dramatically change a child’s life story. Parents and carers play a crucial role in helping children discover this passion and research shows that sharing a story with your child for just 10 minutes a day can significantly boost how well they do at school, at work and in life.”
To become a reading volunteer call Beanstalk on 020 7729 4087.
Read More
MORE ABOUT