Project Boosting Literacy Skills and Enjoyment of Reading

Innovations for Learning targets struggling readers from disadvantaged communities. GiveBradford’s Sir Ken and Lady Morrison Fund enabled them to provide “TutorMate”, a unique online remote reading support solution which boosts children’s enjoyment of reading as well as their confidence and aspiration.

 

• Can you describe your organisation and the people/communities you support?

At Innovations for Learning, we believe that the ability to read underpins every child’s educational attainment and helps them to fulfil their potential. Our core programme, TutorMate, which uses a unique, online platform to pair corporate volunteers with children in need of reading support, has been proven to improve the literacy outcomes and reading enjoyment of young children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We target struggling early readers, aged between 5-7 years old, working through and with primary schools with an above average number of children receiving free school meals and/or with English as a second language.

 

 

• How have you been supported by Leeds Community Foundation and what has this funding enabled you to do? 

Our recent Sir Ken and Lady Morrison Fund grant enabled 73 children from Bradford, attending Horton Park and Horton Grange schools, to benefit from the TutorMate online supported reading programme in the 2020-21 academic year.

Despite the immense challenges of Covid, TutorMate’s programme was able to operate when children were able to attend school. Some children were even able to access TutorMate volunteer reading support when they were learning from home.

Over the course of the academic year, TutorMate volunteer readers delivered 1137 reading sessions (460 hours) to 73 children. The reading ability and confidence of children participating in the programme improved: teacher-assessed reading levels increased by more than three levels on average.

 

• Can you give us an example of an individual and or group and how they have responded to this work?

Due to Covid, it was very hard for us to collect case study information this year from teachers. Our programme staff were not able to visit schools and teachers were overstretched and overwhelmed. However, one of their volunteers also recorded this video about her experience and the reading journey of her pupil.

 

• What challenges and opportunities do you face as an organisation in the current climate?

Obviously, for any organisation working in education, the impact of school closures and the ongoing disruption of the pandemic is a significant challenge. Our online model does mean that we are well-positioned to support children when schools are open, however, and lots of companies have embraced virtual volunteering as never before. There is almost infinite demand from schools for TutorMate, we just need to ensure we have sufficient volunteers to support as many children as possible!

 

• How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed?

Like many smaller charities, we are always looking for the core funding that will enable us to grow and scale. At this stage, it’s all about investing in the infrastructure that will allow us to diversify our income streams and grow our corporate partnerships. This will ensure that our staff on the ground can continue to deliver a high-quality support programme which maximises the benefits to children.

 

Read more about our impact here.