14 to 18-year-old volunteering: Reading Mentors
We work with schools, sixth forms and colleges to help students, aged 14 to 18, volunteer as Reading Mentors. As a Reading Mentor, student will support a child to enjoy reading and build confidence through regular one‑to‑one sessions in school or online.
What is the Reading Mentor programme?
Our Reading Mentor Programme gives 14 to 18-year-olds the opportunity to read with children in a local primary school.
Your students will read one‑to‑one with children aged 5 – 11 from one of our partner primary schools. Mentors deliver weekly 30‑minute sessions, reading stories and playing literacy‑based games with the same child over a sustained period.
Bookmark provides all safeguarding, training and structured resources, making the programme straightforward for schools to run while delivering real impact for children who need extra reading support.
How student volunteering works
Reading Mentors register through their school – this helps us ensure our programme is safe, structured and well supported for children, students and schools.
Schools can register their interest via our registration form and a member of the Bookmark team will be in touch.
Why become a Reading Mentor?
Becoming a Reading Mentor is not only a rewarding experience, it’s also a great way to strengthen your CV and make your UCAS application stand out.
It gives you hands‑on experience working with children, and the volunteering hours can count towards your International Baccalaureate (IB) creativity, activity, service (CAS) requirements and also fulfil the “volunteering” section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Please note, to meet Duke of Edinburgh’s Award criteria, you’ll need to volunteer for at least one hour per week – two back‑to‑back 30‑minute sessions – for a minimum of three months (Bronze), six months (Silver) or 12 months (Gold).
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 volunteer with Bookmark?
As a reading mentor, 14 to 18-year-old volunteers will:
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Support children to develop the reading skills they need to progress at school and in life
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Build self‑confidence for themselves and the children they read with
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Develop planning and delivery skills by choosing and using reading resources
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Make a positive contribution, with 92% of our volunteers feeling they’ve positively impacted a child
Learn more about our Reading Mentor programme and the benefits of volunteering for 14 to 18‑year‑old students.
Learn more about our Reading Mentor Programme and the benefits of volunteering for 14 to 18-year-old students.
Read more
Safeguarding
Ensuring the safety of children and volunteers is at the very heart of what we do. You can find our safeguarding, safer recruitment and other policies relating to volunteering here.
Frequently asked questions
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- Training is provided through our online platform 360 Learning
- Safeguarding checks are required
- Reading Mentors are supported by Bookmark staff
- The programme operates in schools
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Students need to sign up to volunteer via their school. We require a minimum of 10 students or 5 if at least one volunteer is using their volunteering as part of their DofE as they will need to compete 1 hour per week.
Contact your school asking them to complete the registration form on our website, and a member of the Bookmark team will be in touch.
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Student reading mentor roles are suitable for students who:
- Are aged 14-18
- Are studying at school, sixth form or college
- Can volunteer weekly during term time
- Enjoy reading and working with children
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our Help Centre
Reading mentor partner schools
Join our Reading Mentor programme
Register your interest today and a member of the Bookmark team will be in touch.
