'I got immediate support and advice'
Volunteer Caroline talks about her volunteering experience as well as Learn to Love to Read's support and training.
“The best thing about being a volunteer is seeing the children progressing, enjoying books and growing in confidence each week.”
Caroline first heard about Learn to Love to Read when her child’s primary school in Tooting became a partner school. She saw a request for reading volunteers in the school newsletter and on local Facebook groups, and as she was looking for a volunteering role and enjoyed working with children, she felt it would be a great way of helping in her local community.
She started volunteering in March 2020 and was delighted to discover that it was the fun and rewarding experience she hoped it would be. She comments: “It has also been good for my own confidence and learning new skills too - adapting to each of the children’s needs as they are all at different levels of reading. I look forward to reading with them every week and seeing them progress.”
She goes on to say: “At the start of the year one of the children I read with could not sit still and sounded out most of the words. Over the course of the school year they became confident to read their own book to me and also want to read the book I normally read to them at the end of the session too! It was so lovely to see them enjoying reading.”
Before they start reading with children, all L2L2R reading volunteers attend an initial training session which covers how children are taught to read in schools, how to run a reading session and safeguarding. Caroline feels this was an important part of her volunteering journey as it helped her realise how difficult and exhausting it can be for some children when they start to learn to read. She felt it gave her a better understanding of children’s experiences as well as giving her a clear structure on which to base her reading sessions, “which the children love as they know what to expect.” She continues: “The children look forward to being read a story at the end of the session and will often ask for a favourite book.”
Caroline has also found L2L2R responsive when she felt she needed extra support with a child who was initially reluctant to come out of class to read with her: “I got immediate support and advice and also attended a training session on games to help reluctant readers. It was also a lovely way to meet other volunteers and have a chat!”
So what would she say to anyone thinking of volunteering with L2L2R?
“Go for it! It’s a great way to make a difference in only 90 minutes a week and it’s local too. The skill of reading and enjoying stories is one of the most important things and more and more children are needing our help.”