What are the corporate volunteering opportunities with Bookmark?

We are always looking for volunteers to deliver our One-to-one Reading Programme. Our online platform means that volunteers can book sessions that suit their schedule and help children to read from their desk. Please see our Corporate Volunteering help page to find out more.

Can employees volunteer during working hours?

We offer flexible online reading volunteer opportunities that enable employees to support children aged 5-11 through one-to-one reading sessions during the school day (from 8am - 3:30pm).Many corporate partners allow employees to participate through agreed workplace volunteering schemes. Once you've onboarded as a volunteer, you can select a programme on the time, day and frequency that suits your schedule.

Do I need teaching experience?

No. Full training, guidance and resources are provided.

How does online volunteering work?

Once you've applied, we'll give you the training and support you need through our Safer Recruitment process.You'll select the programme timing which works best for you, and book it through our Volunteer Hub.You'll log on to each session through your PC, laptop, MacBook, Chromebook, or iPad, requiring both a webcam and an internet connection.

How are staff onboarded and trained?

Ensuring children and volunteers have a great and safe experience means our recruitment process and training is done well. Find out more about our Safer Recruitment Policy and Safeguarding at BookmarkYou'll need to provide a five-year education, employment and volunteer history and provide two references to complete your applicationOnce your application has been reviewed, you can apply for a DBS check. We’ll support you through this process and pay for your DBS check to be doneOur training is all done virtually at a time that suits youIt usually takes our volunteers around four to six weeks to complete their application process and trainingSearch for more information and advice in our Help Centre

How much time is involved?

The majority of our volunteers deliver two sessions per week with the same child. However, we know for some people that may not work, so we have other models available, such as our single-session programme, with volunteers delivering one 30-minute session a week for a longer duration.Becoming a Bookmark reading volunteer is a meaningful commitment. Given the investment required to onboard each volunteer (£300+), we ask that you apply only when you’re ready to meet the programme requirements and dedicate the necessary time outlined in the role description.

Do you offer any team volunteering activities?

We have a number of team-based volunteering opportunities for our corporate partners, including packing our Story Starter packs, running book drives, and even revamping school libraries. If you are interested in developing a partnership with us where we can incorporate further volunteering opportunities to engage your staff, please get in touch.

How can my company become a corporate partner?

Our team will work with you to understand your goals and explore how your employees can get involved. Whether you're looking to launch a new corporate volunteering programme, support your corporate social responsibility objectives or create a longer-term charity partnership, we'll help you find the right approach.To find out more, get in touch with our team and we'll talk you through the options available.

Corporate & Workplace Volunteering

Looking for a corporate volunteering programme that creates measurable social impact while engaging your employees?

We help businesses deliver meaningful corporate social responsibility volunteering through our flexible reading programmes. Your employees can support children aged 5 – 11 who need extra help with reading, all through convenient online sessions that fit around the working day.

Why work with Bookmark for corporate volunteering?

Children who struggle with reading are more likely to face challenges throughout education and later life. Through our corporate literacy volunteering, your employees can provide consistent one-to-one reading support that helps children develop vital literacy skills.

Improve reading confidence and enjoyment
Build core literacy skills
Develop positive reading habits
Receive personalised one-to-one support
Discover the joy of books and storytelling

Boost employee morale through volunteering
Strengthen employee engagement
Deliver meaningful CSR initiatives with measurable impact
Support ESG and corporate social responsibility goals
Provide flexible workplace volunteering opportunities
Demonstrate commitment to local communities
Offer employees a rewarding volunteering experience

This is a volunteering programme with real impact, connecting your people directly with children who need support the most.

How it works

One of the biggest challenges businesses face is finding volunteering opportunities that fit into busy schedules.

Our One-to-one Reading Programme is designed to be simple, accessible and flexible.

1

Speak with our team to select the corporate volunteering option that best suits your business
2

Employees complete onboarding, safeguarding checks and training
3

When they are ready to volunteer, staff book reading sessions through our Volunteer Hub
4

Volunteers deliver one or two 30-minute reading sessions either online or in-person

Further information

We are always looking for volunteers to deliver our One-to-one Reading Programme. Our online platform means that volunteers can book sessions that suit their schedule and help children to read from their desk. Please see our Corporate Volunteering help page to find out more.
We offer flexible online reading volunteer opportunities that enable employees to support children aged 5-11 through one-to-one reading sessions during the school day (from 8am - 3:30pm).
Many corporate partners allow employees to participate through agreed workplace volunteering schemes. Once you've onboarded as a volunteer, you can select a programme on the time, day and frequency that suits your schedule.
No. Full training, guidance and resources are provided.
Once you've applied, we'll give you the training and support you need through our Safer Recruitment process.
You'll select the programme timing which works best for you, and book it through our Volunteer Hub.
You'll log on to each session through your PC, laptop, MacBook, Chromebook, or iPad, requiring both a webcam and an internet connection.
Ensuring children and volunteers have a great and safe experience means our recruitment process and training is done well.
Find out more about our Safer Recruitment Policy and Safeguarding at Bookmark
You'll need to provide a five-year education, employment and volunteer history and provide two references to complete your application
Once your application has been reviewed, you can apply for a DBS check. We’ll support you through this process and pay for your DBS check to be done
Our training is all done virtually at a time that suits you
It usually takes our volunteers around four to six weeks to complete their application process and training
Search for more information and advice in our Help Centre
The majority of our volunteers deliver two sessions per week with the same child. However, we know for some people that may not work, so we have other models available, such as our single-session programme, with volunteers delivering one 30-minute session a week for a longer duration.
Becoming a Bookmark reading volunteer is a meaningful commitment. Given the investment required to onboard each volunteer (£300+), we ask that you apply only when you’re ready to meet the programme requirements and dedicate the necessary time outlined in the role description.
We have a number of team-based volunteering opportunities for our corporate partners, including packing our Story Starter packs, running book drives, and even revamping school libraries. If you are interested in developing a partnership with us where we can incorporate further volunteering opportunities to engage your staff, please get in touch.
Our team will work with you to understand your goals and explore how your employees can get involved. Whether you're looking to launch a new corporate volunteering programme, support your corporate social responsibility objectives or create a longer-term charity partnership, we'll help you find the right approach.
To find out more, get in touch with our team and we'll talk you through the options available.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our Help Centre

A girl in a white top reads a book, leaning her arm on a stack of books

Delivering meaningful CSR impact

Many businesses want CSR initiatives with measurable impact that go beyond a one-off volunteering day.

By partnering with Bookmark, companies become part of a long-term effort to tackle low literacy and help more children discover the joy of reading. It’s a practical way to support your corporate social responsibility volunteering objectives while creating opportunities for employees to give back.

Our team works closely with partners to build charity partnerships for CSR impact that align with their goals and make a difference where it’s needed most.

5 Ways Bookmark Can Boost Your CSR Approach

Spark the joy of reading in a child and discover how Bookmark Reading Charity can boost your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach.

Hear from our corporate partners

Our corporate partners join us because they want to create meaningful opportunities for employees while helping children develop the reading skills they need to thrive.

It's lovely building the relationship and seeing the child begin to trust you, volunteer their own thoughts and ideas, and become more confident.

Volunteer, Close Brothers
I thoroughly enjoyed by reading sessions. [My reader] did go up a few levels in her reading during the six weeks. She was very proud when she told me. The impact of knowing you are helping someone with their development is invaluable.

Volunteer, Bank of America
I feel happy to know that I am helping a child to read, and it is also improving my skills too. I have really enjoyed the training and optional training videos. I feel they have helped me improve and I want to continue to learn and improve. I am hoping to keep volunteering long term.

Corporate volunteer, DHL
I am inspired that our colleagues are making a tangible difference in the lives of disadvantaged children, equipping them with essential reading skills and fostering a love of learning.

Adrian Sainsbury, CEO, Close Brothers Group
I liked that the Bookmark reading programme worked around my schedule! Over the course of the six-week programme, I was really able to get to know the pupil and enjoyed seeing their progress and development.

Corporate volunteer
It was lovely speaking to my reader in our reading session. She said she loves turtles, so I was able to find a book that captured her imagination for us to read together. She is amazing!

Volunteer, DHL
So many of my employees are saying they want to give back to the society in which our clients live. Working with Bookmark is perfect because we can help every town, city, and even village in need of support and you can demonstrably see how you are making a difference in these local communities.

Dawn Marriott, Former CEO, Azets, and Partner at Hg