Reading Matters
Literacy support, Training and Volunteer network
What training programmes can we provide ?
What is the volunteer network ?
Why do you need Reading Matters ?
How effective is the Reading Matters intervention ?
Who are the Volunteer Mentors ?
How is Reading Matters funded ?
How do you get more information ?
What is Reading Matters ?
Reading Matters was established in Leeds in 1997. The organisation’s Head Office is in Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is a registered charity and a not-for-profit, social enterprise.
What training programmes can we provide?
Reading Matters offers a range of accredited literacy support training programmes to suit your requirements:
- Reading Leader ‘Buddy’ Programme, suitable for Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 5 pupils
- Volunteer Mentor Training
- Parents & Carers as Partners, family learning programme
- Corporate Volunteer Mentor Training
- Learning Support Assistant Training, offering an accredited course for LSAs delivered in school or externally
For further information on training click here
What is the volunteer network?
Our volunteers come from all walks of life and from many different backgrounds. They form our Volunteer Reading Mentors network which covers more than 100 secondary schools across 10 local authorities supporting young people aged 11 - 16 who are struggling with their reading skills and confidence.
We recruit and train our volunteers who are then placed in schools to work as Reading Mentors, on a one-to-one basis. We offer ongoing support and advice and top up training. We also provide exciting and flexible corporate volunteering opportunities.
Why do you need Reading Matters?
By complementing other interventions our volunteers can help to raise reading skills and confidence and help to improve attainment across the curriculum. The young people who benefit most are those who lack confidence and whose reading levels prevent them from learning effectively.
They may also have English as a second language and/or special educational needs, although our volunteers are not trained to work with pupils who have severe learning difficulties. Through our transition programme, we can offer particular support to those pupils who are identified as likely to experience difficulties during transfer from primary to secondary school. We will consider primary school work on an individual school basis, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
How effective is the Reading Matters intervention?
A recent independent evaluation report (by Leeds Metropolitan University, 2005) indicates that pupils experience an average gain in reading age of 15 months, in terms of word recognition and of 10 months with regard to reading comprehension after just 10 weeks with a Reading Matters volunteer. Pupils also improve significantly in terms of reading performance, attitude to reading, confidence in the classroom, self-esteem, motivation and speech and language.
Who are the Volunteer Mentors?
Volunteers are recruited from within the local community and local companies. They represent a wide cross-section of people with varying interests and experience, all of whom share a love of reading. Volunteers are interviewed and then, if suitable, attend an intensive two-day accredited training course, designed by experts in the field of literacy.
All volunteers are subject to enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks before being placed in school.
How is Reading Matters funded?
Each volunteer costs around £800 per year to recruit, train and support. We ask schools to pay a contribution towards the costs of each volunteer, and other costs are met by a combination of donations, grants and in-kind support from charitable trusts, government, LEAs and companies. Increasingly, we also aim to offset our costs by reinvesting any profits resulting from our training services.
How do you get more information?
Whether you have a particular training need, are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to discuss implementing a volunteer scheme in your school, complete our enquiry form or contact us directly
