Natalie Drew is a Senior Executive Assistant at Deloitte, a Chapter One Platinum partner.

Could you tell us about what led you to volunteer with Chapter One?
Before joining Deloitte in 2022, I ran the office in a busy primary school in Hampshire. Working in school during Covid, I read with the children of our key worker parents and saw first-hand how regularly sharing books with the children improved not only their literacy skills, but also their confidence. When I joined Deloitte, I was keen to find a volunteering opportunity that would allow me to continue to support children’s literacy. The Chapter One programme appealed, as it offered the flexibility of reading online at a time that suited me.

How are you and your young student getting on?
I have been reading with my student now for six or seven months. He has been enthusiastic about reading from the beginning, and it has been wonderful to watch his fluency and confidence grow over time. The online platform provides a fantastic range of books, allowing him to select texts that match his interests and his reading level. During our 30 minute session we also get the opportunity to play a number of word games and it has been lovely to see him challenge himself and decipher some really tricky words! The platform also allows direct contact with my student’s teacher so I can update her on his progress.

How do you think online reading sessions compare to in-person reading in terms of building relationships with children? Are there any unique advantages you've discovered?
I’m not sure anything really compares to sitting with a child and sharing a book with real pages, but the Chapter One platform comes a close second! Whilst a face-to-face interaction allows you to see how the child is feeling, to pick up on the little things you would only see in person, the Chapter One platform is so easy to use and the available games really give you a chance to tailor the session to best suit the child’s needs/wants on the day.

You mention seeing your student's "fluency and confidence grow" - could you share a specific moment or example that stands out where you noticed a breakthrough in their reading?
My student has been really enthusiastic from day one, but he was more reluctant to tackle trickier words in our first few sessions. His confidence in his reading, and with me, has grown over the weeks and he now confidently sounds out the trickier words. I was blown away a few weeks ago when he decoded perseverance!

As someone with experience in both education and the corporate world, what do you think companies like Deloitte gain from supporting programmes like Chapter One?
Education is woefully underfunded and understaffed all across the country. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day for teachers and learning support assistants to spend the time with each child to ensure they read regularly in a 1-2-1 session. The school I worked at was lucky enough to have regular parent/grandparent volunteers coming in to read with the children who were struggling or those who didn’t have the additional support at home – but I know other schools aren’t so fortunate. Deloitte's support for programmes like Chapter One aligns with its commitment to corporate social responsibility and its broader societal impact strategy. Supporting Chapter One enhances Deloitte's brand reputation as a responsible corporate citizen committed to social mobility and diversity and it can lead to recognition within the industry and among clients who value companies with a strong social purpose. There are huge benefits to employees too - encouraging us to volunteer and give back to the community fosters a real sense of purpose and engagement.

What has been the most challenging aspect of virtual reading sessions, and how have you overcome it?
The initial few sessions felt a little odd – never having met – just a voice in your headset. All of our reading sessions are done off camera so I was delighted to have the opportunity to ‘meet’ my student before Christmas when, along with other volunteers, we got together online to chat to all the readers in their classroom. Having the opportunity to ask the student questions about the kind of books he liked, what he found tricky and what sort of games he liked playing either in person or virtually on screen sped up that feeling of knowing someone and being comfortable with them.

Since ’meeting’, he has been much keener to share – he chats to me about how his week has gone, his family and the things he is looking forward to. Before ‘meeting’ I was just a strange voice in his headset – now I am a real person! It was lovely to put a face to the little voice I hear each week.

Would you recommend volunteering with Chapter One to your colleagues?
The team at Chapter One have been very supportive providing training to volunteers and are always on hand to help with any technical issues. I would not hesitate to recommend the programme to any colleagues who are looking for a rewarding and enjoyable volunteering opportunity, which fits around their busy schedules.

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.