Three Schoolreaders Ambassadors Recognised in BBC Make a Difference Awards
Three Schoolreaders Ambassadors Recognised in BBC Make a Difference Awards
Every week, thousands of children across England sit down with a Schoolreaders volunteer and discover that reading can be enjoyable, not intimidating. Through patient one-to-one support, they build confidence, improve their literacy and begin to believe in themselves.
That is only possible because of volunteers like Laura Kenyon-Slaney, Dawn Haig-Thomas and Penny Hubbard.
We are incredibly proud that these three Schoolreaders County Ambassadors have been recognised in the BBC Make a Difference Awards 2026. Laura was named winner of the Oxfordshire Fundraising Award, Dawn received a special mention as a finalist on the Isle of Wight, and Penny was shortlisted in Norfolk.
Their achievements represent thousands of hours spent helping children who need extra support with reading, recruiting volunteers, championing literacy and opening up brighter futures for children in their communities.
Laura Kenyon-Slaney
For nearly a decade, Laura has been helping children in Oxfordshire build the reading skills they need to thrive.
Since becoming a Schoolreaders volunteer in 2017, she has delivered more than 3,000 one-to-one reading sessions at St James C of E Primary School, supporting children who need extra encouragement to become confident readers.
But Laura's impact stretches far beyond the children she reads with herself.
As a passionate advocate for Schoolreaders, she has grown the number of volunteers in Oxfordshire from just six to 89. Today, around 890 children across the county receive weekly reading support because of her efforts.
Laura has also worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of reading, building a long-standing partnership with the Oxford Literary Festival and speaking at community events to inspire others to get involved.
Alongside this, she has raised almost £250,000 for Schoolreaders through fundraising, events and introductions to supporters who share her belief that every child deserves the chance to read well.
We are delighted that Laura's extraordinary commitment to children has been recognised with a BBC Make a Difference Award.
Dawn Haig-Thomas
Since joining Schoolreaders in 2023, Dawn has become a powerful force for children's literacy on the Isle of Wight.
Every week, she spends time reading one-to-one with children at Queensgate Foundation Primary School, helping them develop confidence, fluency and a love of stories. To date, she has delivered more than 1,000 reading sessions.
Through her enthusiasm and determination, the number of Schoolreaders volunteers on the Isle of Wight has grown from 30 to 57. As a result, 570 children now receive regular face-to-face reading support every week.
She has also championed Schoolreaders at events across the island, taken part in media interviews, supported volunteer recruitment and helped create a welcoming community for local volunteers through coffee mornings and networking opportunities.
As well as raising awareness, Dawn has raised more than £6,000 for Schoolreaders, ensuring even more children can benefit from reading support in the years ahead.
We are thrilled that Dawn's dedication to children and literacy was recognised by the BBC with a special mention as a finalist.
Penny Hubbard
Penny knows that when a child learns to read confidently, it can change the direction of their life.
Since becoming a volunteer in 2022, she has delivered more than 1,300 reading sessions at Hunstanton Primary School, helping children grow in confidence and enjoy reading for pleasure.
At the same time, Penny has become one of Schoolreaders' most effective champions in Norfolk.
She regularly speaks at community events to encourage more people to volunteer, sharing the difference reading support can make to a child's future. Her presentation to more than 400 people at the Norfolk WI AGM generated one of our strongest volunteer recruitment responses of the year, and she continues to speak at events across the county.
Penny has also worked with young people through Gresham's School, creating a Student Ambassador programme that has helped students develop leadership skills while raising valuable funds to support children's literacy.
Through fundraising and community engagement, she has helped secure more than £3,500 for Schoolreaders, enabling more children to access the support they need.
We are delighted that Penny's commitment to children and reading has been recognised through her BBC Make a Difference Award shortlist place.
Thank You
Behind every award nomination is something much bigger.
A child who feels proud of finishing a book for the first time. A child who puts their hand up in class because they are more confident. A child who leaves primary school with stronger reading skills and more opportunities ahead of them.
Laura, Dawn and Penny have helped make those moments possible for hundreds of children.
To all three of them, and to every Schoolreaders volunteer across the country, thank you. Your time, patience and commitment are helping children develop the literacy skills, confidence and love of reading that can last a lifetime.
