Join our reading mentor programme
A simple but impactful way for students, aged 14 – 18, to support children who need extra help with reading.
Students volunteer for 30 minutes each week with children in disadvantaged communities. IB CAS and DofE compatible.
Helping readers grow and students thrive
As the National Year of Reading’s official partner for youth volunteering, we help secondary schools and colleges deliver structured reading support with real impact for children and meaningful development for students.
Register your school’s interest below and we’ll arrange a short call to talk through how the programme could work in your school.
Please note, this form should only be completed by schools and not Reading Mentors directly.
What is the Reading Mentor Programme?
The Reading Mentor Programme connects student volunteers with children at risk of falling behind in reading.
Mentors deliver weekly 30‑minute sessions, either online or in a primary school, where they:
- read stories together
- play literacy‑based games
- build a child’s confidence and enjoyment of reading
We provide everything needed to run the programme safely and smoothly, so schools can focus on supporting students and children.
Bookmark helps to connect young people in different stages of their development and allows them to help each other. Their pupils learn crucial literacy skills, and our pupils develop their ability to empathise, educate, and inspire. It has been a formative experience for everyone involved, and I hope we can continue to grow these relationships and put our wonderful pupils to good use in the community.
Why schools choose Reading Mentors
Our Reading Mentor Programme gives your students the chance to develop leadership, empathy and communication skills while supporting children who need extra help with reading.
✅ Fully safeguarded and compliant
✅ Structured mentor training
✅ Counts towards a International Baccalaureate (CAS)
✅ Fulfils the volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
✅ Ongoing support from our team
✅ Minimal admin for school staff
Easy to run for schools. Transformational for children and students.
What schools and Reading Mentors say
We take pride in offering a volunteer role that is impactful, enjoyable and empowering for young people.
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The Reading Mentor Programme gave my personal statement a boost which set it apart from the average applicant for UCAS - volunteering is really helpful and definitely gives that lift to any application.
Reading Mentor, St George's Weybridge 
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When I started off, I wasn't really sure how to properly communicate with my reader... but towards the end I feel like I've developed skills and I've been able to communicate with them better and help them learn better as well.
Reading Mentor, St Georges Weybridge
