Congratulations to Peter, our Volunteer of the Year 2026!
- eperks1
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
We are delighted to announce Peter Wood as our Schoolreaders Volunteer of the Year 2026.
Peter was nominated for his exceptional contribution to his school community over more than five years of volunteering.
Throughout that time, he has attended school three to four times each week, demonstrating outstanding commitment, reliability and professionalism.
Delivering one-to-one reading interventions Peter has helped children not only improve their reading fluency and confidence but also develop a genuine love of reading. His calm presence, patience and genuine care enable him to build trusting relationships with children, helping them feel listened to, nurtured and safe.
His nomination also recognised the many ways he goes beyond his reading role. Peter regularly supports curricular and extra-curricular activities, is always willing to help and brings positivity and encouragement to everything he does. He is a listening ear for staff and pupils alike, advocates for children and models kindness, consistency and professionalism to other volunteers.
Peter has also taken the initiative to support fellow Schoolreaders volunteers by arranging meetings, sharing reflective updates and encouraging others to deepen their impact. Alongside this, he has helped the school secure funding, supported fundraising initiatives and recently became a school governor, further demonstrating his dedication to the pupils and wider school community.
The children who nominated Peter spoke about the difference he has made to their lives.
One child said:
"Mr Wood always believes in me."
Another shared:
"Mr Wood makes reading fun. I used to hate reading but now I like it because he never rushes me and always helps me. He is also really kind and patient."
For many pupils, Peter is more than a volunteer reader. As his nomination describes, he has helped children feel safe, confident and capable, turning reading into a positive experience and showing them that adults can be kind, reliable and supportive.
Congratulations, Peter, on being named Schoolreaders Volunteer of the Year 2026, and thank you for your extraordinary commitment to helping children discover the joy of reading.
