Inspire Rotherham is the literacy campaign for Rotherham with the mission to improve the literacy levels of our children and young people through co-ordinated, innovative and informed approaches, supported by funding up to May 2011 from Yorkshire Forward.
As part of this campaign we are supporting Business in the Community (BITC) to deliver a bespoke training package to people in Rotherham who are keen to take part in this challenge and volunteer some time to support children’s reading. RMBC is leading the way as a key employer across Rotherham, demonstrating our commitment to making a real and lasting difference.
The Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) have agreed to promote the Right To Read initiative where small groups of employees go into specific local primary schools for example one hour per week to listen to young children read. Such support can advance a child’s reading age by six months; some schemes have reported improvements of two years!
‘Every child has the right to read, but not every child has the opportunity.’
Our mission - to substantially increase the numbers of trained volunteers providing support for children 7-11 years old in schools. We hope to raise literacy standards through a programme of one to one support from participating businesses.
Our vision - to increase primary school pupil literacy levels beyond government targets.
Joyce Thacker, Strategic Director of Children & Young Peoples Services, and Champion for this initiative, is our first volunteer and is looking forward to visiting her designated school shortly.
Volunteers will attend a compulsory one and a half hour training session and have a CRB check before attending schools both of which will be organised by BITC.
Other businesses and employers already signed up to the Right to Read program include:
- Balfour Beatty
- South Yorkshire Police
- Magna
Are you an organisation or employer who is able to support this initiative?
Want to find out more?
Contact Inspire Rotherham on 01709 336801.