What's in a word?

Published by SanH for Sanctuary Housing Association in Communities and also in Education

An Oxfordshire charity is helping to tackle the growing literacy problem in the UK with a new group of volunteers ready to help children learn to read.  But they’re still on the lookout for more.

ARCh – Assisted Reading for Children – recruits, trains and supports volunteers to help children in primary schools across the county.

Sixteen new ARCh ‘recruits’ came together for an intensive training session, thanks to funding from supporting organisations Sanctuary Housing and the Wates Foundation.

The two-day course featured training on a variety of subjects, including the reading process, the reasons why children may have difficulties with reading, working in primary schools, and the importance of games in the learning process.

Against the backdrop of new research indicating that one in five pupils leave primary school unable to read to the Government’s expected standard, charities such as ARCh are more important than ever.

Jane Rendle, development manager for the charity and support worker for Oxford city and South East Oxfordshire, said: “There are many reasons why children may need help in mastering the crucial skill of reading, such as shyness or difficulty concentrating.

“Whatever the reason, our volunteers work with children to make them feel happy and successful, so they start to think of reading as something positive, which gives them confidence.

Jane continues: “We have a wonderful team of volunteers but we always need more!  Our reading helpers visit their designated school twice a week for ninety minutes each time.  They work one-to-one with the same three children so that a strong mentoring relationship develops.  Last year, 99% of our children improved in reading ability and confidence and 98% had a more positive attitude to reading.” 

ARCh currently has around 180 volunteers working in 90 schools across Oxfordshire.

Harjinder Lota, Sanctuary Housing’s head of local partnerships, added: “ARCh reaches out to children who need a little help to encourage their development, building a brighter future for themselves and ultimately our local neighbourhoods. 

“ARCh’s team of dedicated volunteers makes a real difference, and we are delighted to be able to offer financial help to provide training and support.”

The charity also works with local businesses operating Company Volunteering Schemes.  One such scheme with Banbury’s branch of global courier firm DHL is in its third year of operation.

A DHL spokesperson commented: ”Our employees return to work with a discernable spring in their step and relate how well the children they support are developing.  This gives them a deserved feeling of achievement.

“Our company presence in the community is lifted by engaging with this scheme. It directly affects our colleagues who both live and work in the area.”

To find out more about ARCh and to enquire about volunteering with the charity, please contact the ARCh office on 01869 320380 or log on to www.archoxfordshire.org.uk