The Literacy Gap: A Growing Concern

While the new school year brings much excitement, we're mindful that many children in their early primary years grapple with reading, often struggling to catch up.

Recent research has once again highlighted the UK's concerning literacy gap. The Education Policy Institute’s post-pandemic study on attainment gaps reveals that pupils from low-income families have fallen further behind their peers from wealthier backgrounds.

The newly published Coram Beanstalk/Mumsnet survey on UK primary school children's reading habits underscores the need for initiatives like Chapter One. With 28% of children nearing the end of primary school not regularly choosing to read independently, and socioeconomic factors significantly impacting reading habits, our Online Reading Volunteers Programme aims to address these challenges head-on.

Our Impact

By connecting schools and families with corporate volunteers who spend 30 minutes reading online with the same child each week, we're fostering crucial reading skills and inspiring a love for books. Last year's figures speak volumes:

🙋 2,909 children supported from disadvantaged communities in England and Scotland
🕗 21,155 hours of one-to-one reading provided (that’s 2.4 years’ worth!)
🧒 2,744 volunteers engaged
🏫 97 primary schools reached across the UK
🤝 132 corporate partners

Looking Forward: 2024-25

For the upcoming school year, we're setting our sights higher:
- Target: supporting 3,300 children
- Welcoming 36 new corporate partners
- Expanding volunteer commitments from existing partners

We're also branching out to Birmingham and surrounding areas, where the need is particularly pressing:
- 48% of children in Birmingham were living in poverty in 2022-23
- 50% of Birmingham's wards rank in the top 10% for literacy need in England
- The West Midlands recorded the lowest GCSE results in 2024

Join Our Effort

If your company isn't yet involved, we'd love to have you on board. Please reach out to us at hellouk@chapterone.org to learn how your business can contribute to this impactful corporate volunteering opportunity.