Bookmark was set up in 2018 with a very simple vision: we want every child to read.

Currently, more than one in four children leave primary school unable to read well. Disadvantaged children are disproportionately affected, leaving primary school on average a year behind their peers. Furthermore, one in eight children in the UK don’t own a book of their own at home.

Reading is about so much more than just books, it’s a cornerstone to feeling safe, secure, and independent. Without the ability to read, we would not be able to succeed in school, secure employment, or even understand a medical prescription.

Children who don't read well are more likely to drop out of school, become unemployed, or even have a shorter life expectancy.

Bookmark works to improve children’s literacy in the UK by promoting a whole school reading culture in schools for children aged 5-10 in the most disadvantage communities.

We know that literacy is not a one-size-fits-all and that there’s so much that goes into making a child a reader. The wrap-around support we provide to children and schools includes:

- One-to-one six-week volunteer-led reading programmes for children at risk of not meeting the expected standard in reading

- Termly or one-off book packs – includes a diverse range of brand-new books to support the development of engaging reading spaces and strong reading cultures in schools

- Termly literacy magazine 'The Story Corner’ - delivered just ahead of the school holidays so that children have access to high quality reading materials at home

- Providing additional support to teachers - through grants, literacy consultancy, support and training resources

- Distributing home resources and video content to empower family members to support their child’s reading for pleasure and become reading champions at home.

- Early years resource provisions for children starting school, helping to ignite the joy of reading from an early age.

Here are a few ways you could help them make every mile count:

£14 = Gift a school a headset to run our online reading programme

£50 = Gift 100 children The Story Corner magazine to enjoy at home

£100 = Gift a school 20 brand-new high quality and diverse books for their library

£250 = Support two children at risk of falling behind with a One-to-one Reading Programme, so they can develop the reading skills they need to succeed

£500 = Gift 15 Story Starter packs to incoming reception-age children, filled with resources that help ignite the joy of reading from an early age

£1,000 = Gift a school a year’s worth of books, reading resources and teacher training

£2,000 = Gift three schools the books and resources they need to run Comic Book Clubs and engage reluctant readers

Thank you for supporting Bookmark and for helping to change children’s life stories.