Bookmark Volunteer Featured on the BBC
Bookmark volunteer Dianna and her reader Angie were featured on BBC News.
Dianna, who is 91 years old and our oldest volunteer, has been helping children improve their reading skills and has delivered an astounding 230 online sessions since she signed up to be a volunteer in September 2021. Dianna is a retired teacher and reached out to Bookmark after the death of her husband, as she felt there was ‘such a black hole after my husband died. I had to try and fill my time with something instead of spending all my time moping.’ Dianna is currently supporting five children from the comfort of her own home in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. One of those children is 9‑year-old Angie.
Angie moved to the UK from Central America 3 years ago and was unable to speak English. Together Angie and Dianna have completed 3 programmes and over 40 sessions together. Angie has expressed her appreciation for Dianna’s support by stating that she is “a great teacher, I do really like her, she treats me well and is kind with me.” Dianna described the help she provides to children as “a privilege and a gift” and said that “It’s made life worth living, I’ve got some purpose and it’s so rewarding.”
“It's made life worth living, I've got some purpose and it's so rewarding”
The story was featured on 38 shows across the BBC network, including BBC Newsline, BBC Breakfast and even Newsround! It also ran on BBC radio stations.
We’re pleased to say that Dianna’s story has inspired and resonated with a large number of people that have applied to help children learn to read with Bookmark. However, more volunteers like Dianna are needed to meet the rising demand from schools and help our services reach even more children across the country.
If you’d like to volunteer, you can find out more and sign up here.
Watch Dianna and Angie’s full story here.
