Antonia has been volunteering in school with Learn to Love to Read since the beginning of 2026. Having found herself briefly unemployed, she found out about L2L2R from the Job Centre. We caught up with her recently to find out how she was getting on.

Antonia told us that she originally wanted to get involved with the charity to give back to her local community and to widen her life experiences. She recalls she was initially nervous about ensuring she could give her best to the children, but says her fears were unfounded:

“I was silly to feel nervous because the charity has been extremely supportive, caring and offer excellent guidance and training.”

She feels well-supported in her volunteering role, finding L2L2R’s training comprehensive with the team “always on hand to answer questions, offer guidance and provide solutions whenever needed.”

Since starting to volunteer she has found the experience better than expected with the children “full of life and personality.” She has enjoyed becoming part of the L2L2R “reading squad” and finds it to be a genuinely rewarding and inclusive experience which she has enjoyed immensely to date.

Thinking about the impact her sessions have had on the children she has supported, Antonia reflects that she can see clearly how one-to-one time spend reading not only helps children improve their relationships with books but also increases their confidence. She comments: “It allows the kids to be creative, descriptive and imaginative, and see the words as a story. Being a little piece of the big jigsaw of education is impactful to a child’s future growth.”

Would she recommend volunteering with L2L2R to others?

“Do it! You won't regret it. Not only will you be making a real difference to a child's confidence and love of reading, but you'll also become part of a wonderfully supportive community of volunteers. And if life occasionally gets in the way, the team are incredibly understanding and will work with you to ensure you can continue to fulfil your commitment in a way that works for everyone.”

Antonia concludes:

“The whole L2L2R team should be incredibly proud of what they are achieving. Their passion, commitment and care are making a genuine difference to children's lives, and it is a privilege to play even a small part in that journey.”