We are increasingly blown away by the way that our corporate partners and schools enter into other forms of collaboration, going above and beyond their Chapter One relationships! A wonderful example of this is how our Silver Partner, Sir Robert McAlpine recently welcomed two classes from Thornhill Primary, Islington, to their London offices.

During the visit, the children learnt about some of the iconic buildings that Sir Robert McAlpine has been part of building or restoring over the years, like Big Ben, as well as jobs in construction, recycling and sustainability. The day included specially prepared worksheets and a construction activity working in teams to build a tower (with an award for the best team) - making it a perfect day, with fantastic careers and STEM elements. It’s so special to see how the deepening of our corporate partnerships can expand the children’s horizons even further by enabling them to get a glimpse into other worlds.

We were delighted to recognise the efforts of Sir Robert McAlpine at our annual Partner, Volunteer and School Recognition Awards in London on 2 July. Sir Robert McAlpine was awarded joint first place (with Deloitte) for the Above and Beyond Award, which celebrates schools and companies that have used their Chapter One relationship as a springboard to bring other benefits to the children and the school. Well done to team Sir Robert McAlpine!

Flo Pett, Year 1 Class Teacher, Thornhill Primary School, said:

"At Thornhill, we have been so lucky with the wonderful volunteers we have, who have not only given up their time and are so kind to our pupils, but also, such as those from Sir Robert McAlpine, who have sent gifts of books to our children so they can all carry on their reading at home. They also organised a completely free school trip to their offices where our lucky Year 2 children were able to learn more about civil engineering. This is something that they would never otherwise get the chance to do and for which we are so grateful."

Our Sir Robert McAlpine volunteers have provided a whopping 440 hours of reading support to Chapter One children this school year. Karen Brookes, Chief People Officer, and Rachel Lloyd-Moseley, Head of Procurement – Nuclear, spend 30 minutes reading online with the same child each week. This 1:1 support helps transform the reading confidence and ability of the children they read with. We spoke to Karen and Rachel about their experiences of volunteering with Chapter One this year.

What motivated you to begin volunteer reading with Chapter One?

Karen: I'm one of the Board Directors at Sir Robert McAlpine so I thought it was important from a leadership perspective that somebody at my level should join in with the programme. I've also got two step grandchildren who are aged 8 and 11 and they're big readers. I was a big reader as a child and I think it gives you such an advantage in terms of when you're able to read. It's also really helpful in terms of engaging with those people around you - Chapter One was an opportunity to get involved and give something back.

If you’re thinking of signing up, don’t be scared! You’re given everything you need to be able to support your child effectively, and you can check things before reading sessions and use the practice feature on the app. Sometimes there are silences and people don’t like that, but you’re giving the child time to think about what you’ve just said. Chapter One is really enjoyable and rewarding, and I definitely recommend it.

Rachel: I have been an avid reader from a very young age. I fell in love with Stephen King books when I was around 10, having devoured Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, What Katie Did, Swallows and Amazons and all of the Narnia books beforehand, so when I first picked up ‘IT’ [Stephen King’s novel] I was hooked! I was a mentor reader for younger pupils with dyslexia when I was at school and at university - I was the only native English speaker in my group, so was always helping with translations. I just wanted to impart the love that I have for reading, words and books to others, so Chapter One was the ideal vehicle for me to try.

What are the benefits of being a Chapter One volunteer?

Karen: I think keeping up-to-date in terms of modern methods of learning - I've just had a grandchild, so it's helpful in terms of thinking about the future. It's also really important for society, in particular for businesses, to be working with future generations and helping them, because you’re helping to educate the future workforce. My pupil, Charlotte, might go on to be an engineer or a HR professional or a finance professional. We don't have enough people in construction in particular, so the more we can engage and the more we can help future generations with their education, the better.

Rachel: I am not a parent, our dogs don’t sit still for me to read to them and my husband is not a reader, so the fact that I can share the joy of words, reading and watch the progression of a little one into someone who hopefully loves stories brings me immense happiness. It has also taught me patience. I have had to learn to connect with someone 40 years younger than me, who doesn’t know what I look like or who I am but is trusting me to help her. Finding common ground with an age group of humans that I have ZERO experience with has resulted in my new knowledge of almost every Disney princess, film and character, zoo animals and cheerleading – I get my own homework!

How is your pupil getting on with reading now compared to at the start of the programme?

Karen: Her confidence has definitely improved and we have built up a really nice relationship. I'll always try and say to her, for example, if we speak on a Monday “What did you do this weekend?” and she'll tell me - I have felt her becoming more and more comfortable. I can tell she looks forward to reading because she’s quite excitable, she loves Word Whirled (it's her favorite). She'll say to me “Oh I really love this game, Karen!” and even just the way she now says “Hello, Karen!” and “I’ve got to go, bye now Karen”, I can really see how much she has come out of her shell. That confidence is what’s helping her with other areas of her reading, such as using her phonics and trying new words, which has helped her to widen her vocabulary.

Rachel: In the beginning, she barely spoke let alone read! Over the year, we have progressed through many reading levels. I am frequently told off for being silly, she takes GREAT delight in beating me with hard words, and she is an absolute pocket rocket of joy. She laughs, tells me about what she is up to, and now has the confidence to say she doesn’t know, or to tell me that she knows better than me, and that is brilliant. She has come out of her shell and is a real joy to spend time reading with her - every single week she grows in confidence, laughter and enjoyment. I always ask if she would like to read with me again next week and she always says yes - usually at the top of her voice!

Have there been any standout moments?

Karen: When she told me that one weekend she had played hide and seek with her dad and she hadn't gotten caught! It was really nice because it marked a change in our relationship - it showed that we were breaking the ice and getting to know each other.

Rachel: Definitely the virtual [Chapter One] Meet and Greet event. She had drawn me a fabulous picture and she was a super-smiley little rockstar. And to say she is excited that we may be able to meet in person at the end of the school year and read a real book is an understatement!

How can companies get involved in Chapter One?

Chapter One’s virtual, time-efficient, flexible model for volunteering will enhance your company’s employee value proposition, whilst fulfilling CSR or social value commitments around education, social mobility and inclusion. Employees can:

- volunteer online directly from their desks with no travel

- make a direct impact on the lives of children from disadvantaged communities

- support local communities across the UK

- improve their own well-being by helping others

- reconnect with your company’s social purpose

If you’re interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you! You’ll find out who we currently work with on our partners’ page. You can contact us here or email sarah.taylor@chapterone.org.