Bookmark is currently taking a short hiatus during Covid-19, and our programme is temporarily on pause. However, we will have an increased need for reading volunteers once schools re-open, so please do still go ahead and register to volunteer.  

You’ll be delivering reading support to children who may have fallen even further behind with their reading during this time, therefore helping your local community recover from Covid-19. 

During fun and creative 30-minute sessions you will work one-to-one with the same child for the duration of the 6-week programme at a local school. Each session is divided into three parts invovling helping the child read their classroom book, helping them to read a book of their choice so that they can develop their own reader identity and leading on literacy games provided to each of our parnter schools in the Bookmark Box.

At Bookmark, we know that reading is not just about attainment on paper. As a volunteer you will encourage the child you work with to read for pleasure by engaging with literature that suits their own interests. By talking about books and discovering their own taste, children are able to expand their vocabulary and imagination and can be better prepared to articulate their own thoughts and feelings, helping them to grow and express themselves throughout their lives. This is also an excellent opportunity for students who are looking for a flexible opportunity to gain experience working with children and enrich your CV. On the Bookmark app you can search for schools within your specified post code and book onto sessions at times that suit you, making it possible to fit volunteering around your other commitments.  

After you have applied we will invite you for a chat at our office. We will then give you access to the training. This takes about 3 hours and involved 6 different modules, ranging from safe guarding to your first day, so you are totally prepared to go to your first session. The modules are online so you do not have to complete the training in one go and can also go back and regresh your memory at any time whilst volunteering. You will also be given access to the Bookmark library which is updated with resources and tips to use in your sessions as well as advice from other volunteers. We also arrange regular, optional, meet ups for all the Bookmark team to celebrate the culture of reading. Whilst you are on a 6-week programme you will receive support from your community manager who can always be contacted should you have any thoughts or queries. We have partner schools across all inner London boroughs. Get in touch today and find out how you can change a child's story. More information can be found at https://www.bookmarkreading.org/volunteer or get in touch at info@bookmarkreading.org