Representatives from AtkinsRéalis and Mace Dragados meeting the staff and children at Lozells Primary School in Birmingham

Literacy charity Chapter One has launched its unique Online Reading Volunteers Programme in primary schools in the Birmingham and Solihull area. Children have started receiving weekly online reading sessions from volunteers employed by local and national businesses.

In 2022-23, 48% of children in Birmingham were living in poverty, and previous research showed that 50% of the city’s wards ranked in the top 10% of literacy need in England.

Over 190 corporate volunteers, sponsored by their employers, will use Chapter One’s bespoke, online platform to deliver the weekly reading support to struggling 5-8 year olds in Birmingham and Solihull for the whole of this school year. In addition to developing their reading skills and sparking a joy for books, for many of the children this will be the first time that an adult outside their school or family has been able to focus time on them in this way. The supportive volunteer-pupil relationship provides a significant boost to the children’s confidence and wellbeing.

The organisations supporting the launch are: AtkinsRéalis, Bevan Brittan, Clyde & Co, Fieldfisher, Hogan Lovells, Howden, HS2 Ltd, IM Properties, Jaguar Land Rover, Kier, Mace Dragados, McLaughlin & Harvey, Midlands Rail Alliance, Oakland International, Oakland Foundation, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Solihull Council and Tara Group.

Emma Bell, Chapter One CEO, said: “Chapter One’s expansion into Birmingham and Solihull will enable us to transform more children's futures with one-to-one reading support at the time they need it most, inspiring a love for reading from an early age and helping to build confidence in children who might otherwise slip through the cracks. We look forward to expanding our programme across the West Midlands over the next few years, allowing more children to fulfil their potential.”

Dan Heffernan, Strategic Social Value Lead at AtkinsRéalis, also commented: “Young people who leave school without good literacy skills are held back at every stage of life and their outcomes are poorer on almost every measure, from health and wellbeing to employment and finance. As a major employer in the West Midlands, we have both a vested interest and a societal obligation to support our local communities in ensuring we play an active role in improving essential skills for local residents, which is a vital part of driving local economic growth.”

Funding for the Birmingham and Solihull programme has also been generously provided by a number of organisations including The Mace Foundation, The Noel Sweeney Foundation and The Patrick Trust.

Jo Drummond, Head of Partnerships & Fundraising at The Mace Foundation, said: “The Mace Foundation is proud to be supporting Chapter One’s Online Reading Volunteers Programme via our grant-giving scheme. Together we are helping to transform children’s futures in Birmingham with literacy. We know strong literacy underpins all subjects and is crucial for success across the curriculum. However, this goes beyond educational attainment and into adulthood, since strong writing, communication, and negotiation – all needed for success in adult life – are supported by literacy skills. It’s also a great opportunity for Mace employees to give back by volunteering their time to read weekly with these children to boost their reading enthusiasm.”

Learn more about Chapter One’s Online Reading Volunteers Programme. If your business would like to get involved, please contact hellouk@chapterone.org.