ABC to read (Assisting Berkshire Children)

Set up in 2004, ABC to read safely recruits trains and supports community volunteers to provide one-to-one mentoring of primary school children in Berkshire who are struggling to read. Each year we open up the eyes of hundreds of children to the joys of reading, helping them to gain an essential skill for life. We specifically help children who are not entitled to individual help through statutory funding. Through our project we aim to help reduce deprivation, unemployment and poverty in parts of the Berkshire community by breaking down the barriers felt towards reading and education. We are the only organisation in the region to offer this service and provide continuing support to our volunteers through our training programme. We are always receiving new requests from local schools for volunteers and currently have 46 vacancies to fill.