Corporate workers to help struggling schoolchildren with reading skills

Representatives from AtkinsRéalis and Mace Dragados meeting the staff and children at Lozells Primary School in Birmingham
-Credit: (Image: Darren Quinton Touchstone Visuals)


Schoolchildren will be able to improve their reading skills with help from volunteers employed by businesses. Literacy charity Chapter One has launched its unique Online Reading Volunteers Programme in primary schools in the Birmingham and Solihull area.

In 2022-23, nearly 50 per cent of children in Birmingham were living in poverty and previous research showed that half of the city’s wards ranked in the top 10 per cent of literacy need in England. More than 190 corporate volunteers will deliver weekly reading support to struggling five to eight year olds during school year.

For many of the children this will be the first time that an adult outside their school or family has been able to focus time on them in this way. Organisations supporting the launch are: AtkinsRéalis, Bevan Brittan, Clyde & Co, Fieldfisher, Hogan Lovells, Howden, HS2 Ltd, IM Properties, Jaguar Land Rover, Kier, Mace Dragados, McLaughlin & Harvey, Midlands Rail Alliance, Oakland International, Oakland Foundation, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Solihull Council and Tara Group.

Read More: Birmingham streets among most unsafe for pedestrians

Emma Bell, Chapter One CEO, said: "Chapter One’s expansion into Birmingham and Solihull will enable us to transform more children's futures with one-to-one reading support at the time they need it most, inspiring a love for reading from an early age and helping to build confidence in children who might otherwise slip through the cracks. We look forward to expanding our programme across the West Midlands over the next few years, allowing more children to fulfil their potential."

Dan Heffernan, Strategic Social Value Lead at AtkinsRéalis, also commented: “Young people who leave school without good literacy skills are held back at every stage of life and their outcomes are poorer on almost every measure, from health and wellbeing to employment and finance.”

Social enterprises working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities who could be nominated for the Pride of Britain Fund , a fund set up to help charities and community organisations across the UK.

To mark the 25th anniversary of Pride of Britain, the Pride of Britain Fund is giving £100,000 to supercharge the work of local heroes all over the country. Grants of £500, £1,000 or £2,500 are available, and you can apply for help with work you are doing, or you can nominate someone you know about to receive funding.

The Pride of Britain Fund is here to support the unsung heroes of our country with cash grants to fund their work. The Pride of Britain team will create a shortlist, but the final decision will rest with local communities all over the country, so you will be able to vote on who gets the funding in your area.