Award-winning novelist backs Bedford-based charity to improve childhood literacy

After being revealed as the charity's 'author supporter', Joanna said: “Poor literacy is a very real issue in this country and Schoolreaders is helping address this at such an important time in a young person’s life.

"A good command of literacy and reading really does open up opportunities for young people and I wish Schoolreaders every success with their campaign in improving literacy amongst primary school children.”

Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders - which has offices based in Bedford - added: “We are so grateful to Joanna for being one of our 'author supporters'. This will help us to continue to raise our profile and encourage more schools and volunteers to sign up to our reading support scheme. In turn, this will mean that hundreds more children will benefit with better reading skills and wider life opportunities.

“Schoolreaders can provide a child with a weekly one-to-one reading session for a whole year for the relatively low cost of just £15. The service is free to schools.”

Schoolreaders provides and matches volunteers from the community to listen to children read in primary schools across the country. More than 12,000 children are currently receiving a one-to-one reading session with a Schoolreaders’ volunteer every week.

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