11 colleagues from across the business have joined Chapter One on their online reading volunteer programme. Chapter One transforms children’s futures with one-to-one reading support at a time when they need it most. The volunteers, whose positions have been funded by Heidelberg Materials UK, spend 30 minutes reading online with the same child each week, and have access to a bespoke platform with engaging stories and games, ensuring a holistic approach to literacy support.
The primary goal of Chapter One is to positively impact the lives of children through improved reading skills, enhanced confidence, and to create a lifelong love for learning by bridging the ‘reading gap’. 40% of 11 year-olds in England from disadvantaged backgrounds leave primary school unable to read to the expected standard (DfE, 2023); 43% of English adults can’t read well enough to understand basic health information (NHS); three times as many 6- to 7-year-olds are now very low attaining readers than before Covid (NFER, Nov 2022) and it is estimated that the annual cost of illiteracy to the UK economy is £80 billion (World Literacy Foundation).
Joanna Hitchen, head of social value and EDI for our highways team comments: "Reading with ChapterOne is an incredibly rewarding experience. I can highly recommend it to anyone looking to volunteer but who may have time challenges. The 30 minute sessions just fly by and it's amazing to hear the improvement week on week, and to know that you are making a difference."
Since 2023, 11 colleagues have engaged with children in London, Bradford, Middlesborough and Peterborough through 2613 minutes of reading. Children have already experienced noticeable improvements in their reading skills and the supportive environment has contributed to an increase in their confidence. Across the programme, 59% of pupils were working at or above the expected level at the end of the programme compared to 34% at the start and 87% of teachers believe that pupils were more confident with their reading after having attended Chapter One sessions. As the programme continues, not only will the children’s literacy skills be enhanced, but also a lifelong benefit from a love of reading will be instilled.
Elliot Hutchins who joined the online reading programme as a volunteer in 2023 said: “I have had a total of five sessions with my pupil who attends a school in Bradford. When we began, she was shy but now loves to boss me around and orders me to play another game of ‘word find’ or to read another book. Each session lasts 30 minutes and I have heard a clear improvement in her reading comprehension with each week that passes. I believe this is a fantastic programme that really makes a difference to a child with not only their reading ability, but confidence and problem-solving skills too. Costain has supported as a volunteer by allowing me time each week out of my schedule and enabled me to invaluably help the development of a pupil from the comfort of the office.”
We are delighted to continue to partner with Chapter One and Heidelberg materials in the 2024/2025 academic year.