At Bookmark, we want every child to read.

1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read well. Disadvantaged children are disproportionately affected with the attainment gap increasing in 2022 to the widest it has been in a decade.

Bookmark helps children to become confident, skilled and joyful readers by delivering wrap-around support which includes:

1) 1:1 six-week volunteer-led reading programmes - for children at risk of not meeting the expected standard

2) Termly or one-off book backs - to support the development of engaging reading spaces and strong reading cultures in schools

3) Termly literacy magazine 'The Story Corner - delivered just ahead of the school holidays so that children have high quality reading materials to read at home

Reading isn't just about books. It's about reading a birthday card, road sign, or safety manual. It's about understanding a job application or a lifesaving prescription.

Children who don't read well are more likely to drop out of school, become unemployed, or even have a shorter life expectancy.

This May 2024 a team of Bookmark supporters are taking on the iconic Tough Mudder to help children to discover the joy of reading.

Here are a few ways you could help them make every mile count:

£5 - could gift a school a book for their library

£25 - could gift 54 children their very own Bookmark literacy magazine to support reading at home

£50 - could gift a collection of new and diverse books to a school to transform their library

£100 - could gift seven headsets to a school so that children can complete our online reading programme

£1,125 - could gift a library pack to a school in need and help create an engaging reading space for pupils

Thank you for supporting children's literacy with Bookmark!