Bringing Schoolreaders Volunteers Together
Charlotte Foot, Schoolreaders Engagement & Outreach Coordinator, is part of a small team working to support and engage with our brilliant volunteers. She recently hosted our first official 'Volunteer Café' - a chance for volunteers to meet, share stories and top tips, and of course enjoy some tea and biscuits! Here is what she had to say...
"A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of organising a wonderful Volunteer Café at Hardingstone Village Hall in Northamptonshire, bringing Schoolreaders volunteers together over a cup of coffee, a piece of cake.
"The morning was a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to meet fellow Schoolreaders, share their experiences and exchange helpful tips and advice. As volunteers spend much of their time working independently with children, it was lovely to create a space where everyone could chat openly, learn from one another and feel part of a wider community.
Our Schoolreaders staff members were also on hand to answer questions and offer support. I was delighted to share some educational advice too, drawing on my own experience as a former teacher and helping volunteers feel even more confident when supporting children with their reading.
"Volunteers shared funny stories about life in school. It was wonderful to hear about the joy and pride volunteers feel as they see the children they work with grow in confidence, develop their reading skills and make real progress.
"The feedback from volunteers was incredibly positive. They told us how valuable it was to meet other volunteers, develop their knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, gain greater confidence in their role. It was clear that simply having the opportunity to talk, listen and share experiences made a real difference.
"There was even a lovely surprise during the morning when some volunteers discovered that they were volunteering at the same school! They have since decided to try and organise their own coffee morning.
It was a truly inspiring morning, the first of many Volunteer Cafés taking place over the next academic year."
If you are one of our volunteers - keep an eye on your emails - we'll be in touch to let you know of any Volunteer Cafés near you! Or if you would like to know more, please contact us at admin@schoolreaders.org
