Spotlight on Coram Beanstalk

Coram Beanstalk, a national children’s charity celebrating 50 years of supporting children to become confident, independent readers, is now delivering the service in Sandwell, to help children with reading in local schools.

Helpers provide consistent, one-to-one, support to children in primary schools. Volunteers are trained to do far more than ‘listen to children read’. They help children who are falling behind and who may be missing the wider support they need, to catch up, to switch onto reading, learn to read and become readers.

All partner schools receive a starter pack of Beanstalk Brilliant Books. Volunteers can introduce children to a wide variety of engaging resources and help each child to find and explore their own identity as a reader.

Each volunteer will receive training and will support on average three children for 20-30 minutes, at least once a week. It really is such a fulfilling and meaningful volunteering role which transforms lives, so Coram Beanstalk would like to hear from you to get in touch if you think you can help.

Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk says, “Reading is such a fundamental skill for children to develop during their early years, but children who find it a struggle and don’t have an adult to read with on a regular basis can start to fall behind their peers, which can lead to a loss of confidence and reading enjoyment. Evidence shows, that when children not only can read but chooses to read, they not only achieve more academically across the whole curriculum, but they also benefit from improved well-being and go on to experience greater success in life.

If you would be interested in becoming a reading helper in a local school, please visit the website for more information or  Coram Beanstalk on 020 7729 4087.