Read Aloud Bradford Donate

Thirty minutes, one book, one child

Our volunteers read one-to-one with primary school children across Bradford, twice a week, for a whole school year.

Become a reader
A woman in glasses and a curly-haired child lying on a rug, reading a big book together.

Reading, in action

See our stories
A group of children sitting close together on a classroom floor, reading and drawing.

The same pair, all year

A child gets the same volunteer every Tuesday and Thursday from September to July. Trust comes first; reading follows.

The child chooses

Comics, football annuals, the same dinosaur book eleven weeks running. Choosing is half the point.

A smiling boy resting his chin in his hands over an open picture book, a teddy bear beside him. A young boy following the words of a book with his finger.

Reading out loud, both ways

The volunteer reads a page, the child reads a page. On a hard day the volunteer reads them all, and that is fine.

Where the reading happens

In libraries, corners of classrooms and one converted cloakroom, in nineteen primary schools.

A young child seen from above, holding up a brightly coloured picture book.

Reception

Picture books, pointing and lots of noises.

A small child in a red jumper sitting on a wooden floor, looking at a book.

Years 1 and 2

First chapter books, read together line by line.

Three children seen from above, sitting on the floor with open books and leaflets.

Years 3 to 6

Longer books, and talking about what happened.

Our growth, their future

19

partner primary schools

1,240

children read with since 2017

310

trained volunteers this year

Children's hands and heads seen from above around a colourful pop-up book on the floor.
"He asks every morning if it's a reading day. He never used to look at a book."A parent, Manningham
"I'm retired, and these two half-hours are the best of my week."Pat, volunteer since 2019
"The children who see a reader come back to class calmer and readier."Year 3 teacher, Bowling Park

Stories from the reading corner

Short pieces from volunteers, teachers and the children themselves.

Read our blog
A girl hidden behind an open book, only her eyes and hair showing.

The quiet reader

How a girl who never spoke in class read a whole page aloud in June.

A man in a suit and a young boy sitting on a sofa reading a book together.

Readers in their lunch hour

Six people from one office now spend Thursday lunchtimes at school.

Two young girls standing in a sunny field, reading a book together.

The summer gap

Why we send every child home in July with three books of their own.

Questions people ask

A girl with a bow in her hair reading a picture book.
Do I need to be a teacher?
No. Most volunteers are not. You need patience and two half-hours a week in term time.
Which children take part?
Schools choose children who would most benefit from a regular adult who listens. It is never a punishment.
Is it really free for schools?
Yes. Donations and local businesses cover training, books and checks.
A woman reading aloud from a book to a group of children gathered around her in a library.

Before you volunteer

  1. An enhanced DBS check, paid for by us. It takes about three weeks.
  2. One morning of training at our office in Little Germany, with tea.
  3. Two thirty-minute sessions a week, at the same school, from September to July.
  4. A short note after each session. It helps the teacher, and it helps you see the progress.
Apply to volunteer

Be part of the story

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