A Day in the Life: Meet Eleanor, Schoolreaders Operations Coordinator

Eleanor Fox, Schoolreaders Operations Coordinator

Behind every successful volunteer placement sits a busy and dedicated Operations team ensuring that volunteers and schools are supported from their very first contact with Schoolreaders.

With thousands of volunteers across England and more schools joining the scheme each term, Operations Coordinators like Eleanor play a crucial role in keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

We spoke to her to find out more about a day in the life at Schoolreaders.

What is your name, job role, and where are you based?

My name is Eleanor, and I’m one of the Operations Coordinators here at Schoolreaders in Bedford.

How long have you been with Schoolreaders?

I joined the team just over three years ago.

Can you tell us a bit about your previous job role, and why you chose to join the team here?

I’ve worked within education for most of my career, including roles at Cranfield University, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a local secondary school. Before joining Schoolreaders, I ran my own tutoring business, working primarily with schools.

I supported students who were unable to attend school for a variety of reasons, as well as children living in care who often miss significant amounts of education. I also provided catch-up support following the Covid-19 school shutdowns.

Joining Schoolreaders felt like a natural next step, a chance to continue supporting children’s learning while being part of a team making a nationwide impact.

What does a typical ‘day in your life’ look like?

A typical day as an Operations Coordinator is wonderfully varied. I spend a lot of time responding to telephone and email enquiries from volunteers and schools, processing new applications, and inviting new schools to join the scheme.

Interviewing potential volunteers is a big part of the role. Each interview begins long before the call itself with preparing, reviewing their application, and then speaking with them to understand what has motivated them to volunteer and learning more about who they are as a person. Afterwards, I write up my notes and begin the matching process, which often involves plenty of follow-up with schools and volunteers to keep everything moving forward.

This summer, I helped coordinate responses to our annual volunteer survey. These surveys are incredibly important: they update us on the experiences of our wonderful volunteers and give insight into the difference they are making in school. Reading their comments is genuinely heartwarming. The findings also help demonstrate the impact of Schoolreaders to our supporters and new potential schools.

Working closely with schools also means staying on top of changes in safeguarding legislation. We regularly take part in training, including the NSPCC Safer Recruitment in Education (3.0) and the yearly updates to the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. I also recently completed Open University training on the impact of reading on the brain, a fascinating course that built on my knowledge from previous roles.

What does ‘success’ at Schoolreaders look like for you?

I joined Schoolreaders because I firmly believe that reading is the foundation of a happy and fulfilled life. When I hear feedback from volunteers about the time they’ve spent with 'their' children, it reminds me that what we do really matters.

Success can be measured in many ways, but often it’s the things you can’t quantify that mean the most, a volunteer sharing a story about a child whose confidence has flourished, or a school passing on a small anecdote that reflects the difference a volunteer is making. Moments like those let me know my time that day has been well spent.

Finally, what do you do for fun?

Unsurprisingly, I love reading and always have at least one book on the go. I also enjoy walking my dog, spending time with my family, and learning to ice skate - a hobby that keeps me on my toes in more ways than one!

Eleanor is part of the Schoolreaders Operations team, working to support volunteers and schools across England. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, our small but dedicated team can continue helping thousands more children discover the joy of reading each year.