Before the pandemic 1 in 4 children left primary school unable to read well. Now, new research shows the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is currently at its widest in 10 years.
Bookmark is a children's literacy charity giving children the reading skills, confidence, and enjoyment they need for a fair chance in life through a holistic approach of 1:1 volunteer-led reading support, essential books and reading resources to promote whole school reading culture and give children a lasting love of reading for future success.
Reading isn't just about books. It's reading a birthday card, road sign, or safety manual. It's about understanding a job application or a lifesaving prescription. Children who don't read well are more likely to drop out of school, become unemployed, or even have a shorter life expectancy.
To tackle this issue, a team of Bookmark supporters are taking on the iconic Royal Parks Half Marathon this October 2023, to help support children's reading.
Here are a few ways you could help them make every mile count:
£5 - could gift a school a book for their library
£25 - could gift 50 children their very own Bookmark literacy magazine to support reading at home
£50 - could gift a collection of new and diverse books to a school to transform their library
£100 - could gift headsets to a school to enable 5 children to complete our online reading programme
£250 - could inspire a child's love of reading with a new Bookmark volunteer who is fully trained and vetted
£1,000 Could support eight children with Bookmark programmes at a partner school!
£1,250 - could help a school create an inspiring dedicated reading space for children to enjoy
£5,500 - could support a school with a years worth of Bookmark reading programmes helping children develop the reading skills and confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond