The Gift of Reading

It’s the holiday season and for many of us, it’s a time for giving. At Bookmark, we know just how special books can be and we love sharing the joy of reading.

Being able to read is so important – it impacts every aspect of life. Imagine a child unable to write their own wish list or struggling to read their lines in a school play. For too many children, these experiences remain out of reach. 

Discover how being able to read well can impact a child’s life and hear from teachers, pupils and volunteers on how their confidence has soared due to their improved reading.

Boosting Confidence Through Reading

Reading has the power to shape lives, ignite curiosity and inspire learning. At Bookmark, we thrive off the growth children experience after discovering the joy of reading in their one-to-one reading sessions. 

Feedback from teachers highlights the confidence and new opportunities that come with improved literacy skills. 

One teacher from a partner school in Plymouth shared a remarkable success story, ​“One of the girls who joined the six-week programme now has a reading age eight months above her actual age. She was reading below the expected standard for her age when she started. This is incredible progress in a short period of time! For me, I’ve loved hearing her talk about reading and being excited about it.”

This not only underscores how reading can advance a child’s academic skills, but also shows it plays a huge role in fostering their excitement and engagement with books.

While reading develops literacy skills, it can also impact a child’s confidence and self-esteem. For example, one teacher said, ​‘What really grabs me is how much their confidence increases. I see children, who I know lack confidence when it comes to anything like this, chatting away. That’s incredible. Not only that, but I do think it’s a boost to their self-esteem and their volunteers really lift them up.”

These insights capture the heart of what we do at Bookmark and shows how reading opens opportunities for children to envision a brighter future for themselves. 

The Joy of Reading for Children

For many children, reading builds more than just academic skills. It boosts confidence, joy and feelings of triumph. 

When we asked the pupil from Plymouth what her favourite part of our programme was, she replied, ​“I love reading with my volunteer because I love learning new words.” This highlights how reading can inspire curiosity and personal growth.

This demonstrates how reading can help children develop a sense of accomplishment, while staying motivated to continue improving their reading abilities. This, in turn, sparks a love for learning and helps them grow in confidence, inside and outside the classroom.

A Volunteering Perspective

Reading volunteers have the unique opportunity to witness a child’s growth and progress first-hand. Sandra, one of our dedicated volunteers, shared her experience with us, ​“I cannot believe how much my little reader has improved over the last 10 [sessions]. He has been a delight to read with.” 

Even after just a few sessions of reading support, children often make remarkable improvements in their reading skills. 

By volunteering with Bookmark, you can help a child unlock their full potential and create opportunities that can last a lifetime.

This holiday season, consider a gift that lasts far beyond the festivities – the gift of reading.

*Children’s names been changed for anonymity