Read With Me has gone back to basics by providing volunteers to read with children in Gloucestershire’s primary schools. Not only has this reversed the deterioration in children’s reading, but it has also helped put the lives of many disadvantaged children in the area back on track.

According to the National Literacy Trust two out of five children in deprived areas will not be able to read well by the time they go to secondary school and COVID has made everything worse. Without the ability to read children face a bleak future, unable to take a full part in education or get a job. To break this cycle of deprivation we need ensure that children learn to read well.

1,500 children each week now benefit from reading with a Read With Me volunteer. Our volunteers not only hear children read but they also help to run our “Not So Secret Book Club” events in open spaces in the community. Children of all ages are given free books, entertained with treasure hunts, and encouraged to love reading.

Our task now is to resource and fund our service to ensure sustainable provision. This will mean that every child in Gloucestershire who needs our help can rely on us helping them to fulfil their true potential.