Volunteer with Bookmark
Volunteers are front and centre of our work to help children succeed in school and beyond.
Become a Bookmark volunteer and change children’s life stories in just one hour a week!
About the volunteer role
At Bookmark, volunteering is focused on our One-to-one Reading Programme in order to maximise the number of children we’re able to support with improving their literacy.
Whether online or face-to-face, volunteers directly support children in disadvantaged communities who are at risk of leaving primary school unable to read well. This sets them up for a future with many more opportunities than they might otherwise have.
You don’t need any experience to become a one-to-one reading volunteer as Bookmark provides all of the training and resources you’ll need.
Become a Reading Volunteer
Just one hour a week can help a child gain confidence, improve literacy, and fall in love with reading.
Why volunteer with Bookmark?
There are many reasons volunteers choose to share their time as a reading volunteer, including:
-
Support children who need one‑to‑one reading help
-
Choose flexible volunteering that fits your life
-
Boost a child’s confidence through reading
-
Join a supportive volunteer community
What volunteers say
We take pride in offering a volunteer role that is impactful, enjoyable and accessible.
-
Even if one child is influenced to think “books are for me” or “I can do this” or “I do want to go to university and study English” – what an incredible difference to have made just by virtue of spending two half-hours a week with them.
Claire, Volunteer 
-
It was such a wonderful experience. I was very happy knowing that I was helping someone. The child really improved a lot during the programme. It was really rewarding for me to see the improvement.
Jo, Volunteer 
-
My reader really struggled at first with even simple words but he has improved steadily, giving me a real sense of achievement. I can really see the improvement he is making...
Volunteer 
Related content
-
Bookmark Volunteer Featured on the BBC
At 91 years old, Bookmark’s oldest volunteer has been helping children improve their reading skills. As featured in the BBC, discover more about Dianna.
-
Volunteer spotlight: Igniting the joy of reading with Karen
Bookmark team member and volunteer, Karen, tells us about her reading partnership and her memorable moments from her time on the programme.
-
How you can build your confidence through volunteering
Volunteering has many mental health benefits like increasing self-esteem and boosting confidence. Learn about how you can boost your confidence through volunteering.