Changing the story for children
Helping children to develop the reading skills and confidence they need for a fair chance in life through our support with the Bookmark Reading programme.
Supporting children's literacy and education recovery
We are proud of the positive impact we have through our charitable partnerships. Bookmark Reading, the children’s literacy charity, is one of these.
Through our donations and our employees delivering voluntary reading sessions through the Bookmark Reading programme, we are giving disadvantaged children the reading skills, confidence and enjoyment of reading they need for a fair chance in life.
Making a lasting impact on children's futures
“I like reading with my volunteer because I can have a try and get smarter”
Child on a Bookmark Reading programme
How we helped change the story for children like Daisy
Daisy is 7 years old and in Year 3 at a primary school in South London. Prior to taking part in the Bookmark Reading programme, Daisy had a "big dislike of reading" says her Deputy Headteacher Victoria. Daisy has told her teachers "it's exhausting, it's tough and it makes my brain hurt." Due to this, Victoria says, she will avoid reading at any opportunity, and isn't interested in any sort of book.
During phonic assessments, it was noted that Daisy was a low ability reader and there was a distinct gap between how she was presenting with her speech and her ability to read. She saw herself as bad at reading and identified with that very strongly.
Thanks to Bookmark Reading, Daisy has worked hard to shake that off and battle through this mental block.
Daisy has taken part in multiple volunteer-led reading programmes with Bookmark Reading. After being hesitant to start with they noticed quickly that Daisy took straight to it. She could even be heard laughing and giggling during her reading session and enjoyed the good quality time with her volunteer.
Since taking part in the programme Daisy has developed a love of reading. The school introduced scrapbooks for the pupils and encouraged them to create a page a week on reading for pleasure. Before Bookmark Reading she didn’t do any reading at home, now you can see her mum has spent time with her creating the reading scrapbook, there is no way this would have happened before.
"Daisy brought the positivity for reading home as well as her love of stories. She's so much more confident."
Note: Name has been changed.
Our achievements so far with Bookmark Reading
Bookmark Reading aims to be available to all children who are at risk of falling behind in their reading, so that together with partners like us, we move towards a world where every child can read.
Together, we can continue to reach more children than ever.
- Our donation and volunteers have been instrumental in helping Bookmark Reading deliver a total of 40,239 one-to-one reading sessions to more than 1,875 children so far in the 24/25 academic year.
- Close Brothers volunteers have delivered a total of 1,175 reading sessions to children across the country.
Of the children reading with Bookmark Reading:
- 94% of teachers noticed an increase in the reading confidence of pupils enrolled in the reading programme.
- 93% of teachers noticed an increase in reading enjoyment.
Hear from our volunteers
"Watching the child I read with take onboard the feedback and improve was such a great feeling!"
Natalie
"It's lovely to take a short break from my working day to read with a child. I would do it 10 times a day if I could!"
Jade
"I've really enjoyed it, especially the fact that it's online. It was good to see he progressed in terms of ability and confidence. Reading is so absolutely fundamental, so to be able to give back in this way was really rewarding."
James
"It was brilliant I absolutely love it; I'm definitely putting myself in for another set of twelve after the kids are back."
Ian
"One young boy who said at the start of his reading programme 'I don't like reading' by the end of his finished programme was saying 'I'm a good reader.' I've seen the progressions of confidence and I've seen it with a lot of them which is really lovely."
Nicole