Celebrating reading volunteers this Volunteers Week

This Volunteers Week, we’re celebrating the incredible community of volunteers who give their time to help children grow their confidence, enjoyment and enthusiasm for reading.

Every Bookmark volunteer plays a vital role in helping children build the skills and self-belief they need to thrive in school and beyond.

Last academic year alone, our reading volunteers delivered 40,239 sessions to children through our One-to-one Reading Programme.

That’s tens of thousands of moments where a child was listened to, encouraged and supported – moments that can shape how they feel about reading for years to come.

And behind every session is a volunteer making a meaningful difference. To mark Volunteers Week, we’re proud to celebrate three of our incredible reading volunteers and share their stories in their own words.

Here’s why Josephine chose to volunteer with Bookmark:

‘I started to volunteer at Bookmark because my children had ​‘flown the nest’. I looked after my grandson and my great grandson and my great grandson doesn’t stay over anymore. Now is the time of the electronic games! There was a void and I felt an emptiness. I used to read all the time with my great grandson.

I really enjoy helping a child online with their reading. It’s lovely watching their progression and increasing confidence. I think the children appreciate us listening to them and having that one-to-one quality time.

I am retired and it’s a good feeling to still be able to contribute something to someone’s life and help them with their progression in reading skills. It’s really lovely to see their faces light up when you say ​‘Hello’ to them on the screen. We also laugh when we play ​‘noughts and crosses’ at the end of the reading session and one or the other of us loses! It’s like having another child in your family again. It’s a lovely feeling to be able to connect with a child.’

Josephine’s story reflects the experience of so many volunteers: building meaningful relationships while helping children grow in confidence and ability.

Here’s Nadine’s story:

‘I got involved with Bookmark in October 2024. I had free time and wanted to try and do something ​‘useful’. Various friends of mine were helping children to read, and I realised how much they enjoyed it.

I took longer than most people to ​‘join’ probably due to my age (75) and possibly my relative incompetence with technical computer issues. What struck me immediately was the courtesy of all the people at Bookmark, and their extreme patience to get me on the road.

From the minute I onboarded I enjoyed my sessions more than I can say. I like the fact that one can choose one’s own timings and reader. I have had five readers in all, (all quite different) and think it is a brilliant system. My main aim is always to try and make them enjoy the sessions, and apart from reading two books per session which we choose through Bookmark’s online library, Vedamo, if there is time to spare we play word games like Hangman, or choose funny words to spell.’

Nadine’s experience highlights how flexible and supportive our volunteering opportunity can be, and how quickly it becomes rewarding.

Here’s why Keren enjoys being a reading volunteer:

‘I lost my previously very good health and job in media in 2020. I wanted to do something a few times a week and, more importantly, which I hoped would make a difference.

Volunteering and spending time sharing books and games with my readers in face-to-face sessions has been a revelation. My first reader enthused about Greek myths and cartoons and my most recent loves putting on the various voices of our chosen book’s characters, even sometimes singing them!

To be a part of increasing their enjoyment and ability in reading and some new and familiar stories is satisfying in a completely different way from the best moments of a desk job. I look forward to our reading adventures. And we often laugh.’

Keren’s story is a reminder that volunteering doesn’t just support children, it can also bring a renewed sense of purpose and joy to the volunteers” life too.

Thank you to all our reading volunteers

While we’re spotlighting Josephine, Nadine and Keren, their stories are just a glimpse of the impact made by every single volunteer.

This Volunteers Week, we’re celebrating every volunteer who supports children’s literacy. From online reading sessions to face‑to‑face programmes, our volunteers help children practice reading, grow in confidence and enjoy learning – making a meaningful difference, that can last a lifetime.