Kirklees Reading Friends

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  1. Come and join the Reading Friends Volunteers!

    Reading Friends are trained volunteers providing effective reading support in primary schools. They are men and women of all ages from a wide range of communities. They have good communication and reading skills with a willingness to undertake training.

    Volunteers receive a total of 15 hours training before being placed in a school where they will work for an hour a week with two children. They keep the same partners for a 10 week period. Reading Friends receive a certificate after training. All volunteers will be DBS checked by the school.

    Training takes place in various venues around Kirklees, including in schools, libraries and community venues.

    The benefits of Reading Friends are that children's reading ages improve by approximately 6 months over a ten week period. Reading Friends often have the pleasure of sharing other school activities.

Contacts

Kirklees Reading Friends
01484 234153

Organisation last updated

  1. 08 September 2026

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History

  1. Reading Friends is now over 20 years old. We began with 6 volunteers at Bradley Infant and Junior schools and we now have over 500 volunteers working in over 50 schools across Kirklees. Our patron is Barry Sheerman MP. Reading Friends was developed by FAST LANE (Families And Schools Together, Literacy and Numeracy for Everyone). Reading Friends is now part of Kirklees Children and Young People Service. It is part of the Learning Service's Every Child a Reader strategy.
    We provide free training for those wishing to volunteer.