What we do

The Charity recruits, trains, vets then places Volunteers into primary schools. Our Volunteers work with children ranging from 4-11 years in primary schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Their role is to inspire and help children who need encouragement and boost confidence in literacy.

With a Volunteer’s guidance in a school setting, the children they work with weekly will be supported in their reading and communication skills.  Sessions are designed to be interesting and interactive and children will be given a choice of reading materials and activities by their Volunteer. Through this work with a Literacy Volunteer, children learn to enjoy books, read for pleasure and realise that reading and literacy is fun.

Induction and Training

After making an enquiry and submitting an application form you will be contacted by a Volunteer/Schools Co-ordinator. You will be invited for an interview and if successful will be booked onto a two part training course. Both parts of the course must be completed.                                                                                             …

Vetting

Literacy Volunteers will be fully vetted before they start in school. If vetting cannot be completed then a Volunteer will not be placed in a school. Vetting includes a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, completion of a Safeguarding and Prevent Course and submission of two referees.

Safeguarding

All Volunteers before they start in school must complete a Safeguarding Course and Prevent Course as part of our Safeguarding procedures and policy. Volunteers working in schools are required to refresh their Safeguarding every three years.                                                                                                                 …

Support

Volunteers are fully supported when working in school. Their Volunteer/Schools Co-ordinator will keep in touch and be available to support and visit a Volunteer at any time. Volunteers will also have an allocated contact in school who they will be able to liaise with when needed during their day in school. Volunteer Network Meetings are held every term where Volunteers can meet other Volunteers and exchange advice, ideas and tips.                                                                                                                                                                                                                …

Schools

Volunteers work in our member schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Schools value our Volunteers and pay a yearly subscription to have a Literacy Volunteer in their school. We are not in all schools. We will place a Volunteer into an available school in an area as near as we can to where they live or are travelling from. We cannot guarantee we have a school in your area when you apply. School places vary all the time so Volunteer/Schools Co-ordinators will keep in touch with Volunteers applying to let them know of availability.

Equality and Diversity

All children must be treated equally regardless of gender, colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion or disability. This means that a Volunteer must be prepared to help any child and each child’s background, culture and traditions must be respected                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    …