17 December 2008

Reading Matters

Staff from the Rotherham firm Horner Brothers Print Group (HBPG) have been volunteering as Reading Mentors at a local school, Brinsworth Comprehensive School, a Science College.

Students at the school have benefited from one-to-one reading support in a pioneering relationship established by the Reading Matters charity.

Children who struggle with reading will have difficulties with much of their school work. Reading Matters has shown that the simple programme of support, advice and 'top up' training provided by HBPG staff can have dramatic results, making a real difference to the young people's lives by developing their reading skills and self-confidence.

The employees were interviewed, checked with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and trained by Reading Matters before starting at the school in September 2008. Each employee works with one student per term. They spend a hour together each week in two half-hour sessions. HBPG staff have built strong relationships with the students and staff at the school, as well as with each other, which has helped build a strong team spirit.Christine Mullan, HR Manager at HBPG, says:

"Staff have loved helping the children at Brinsworth School. They get enormous satisfaction from the knowledge they are really helping to support and inspire young people in our community."Jill Ford, Assistant Head Teacher at Brinsworth Comprehensive School, says:

"The young people who the Horner Brothers volunteers work with have gained confidence through the reading activities and developing a friendly relationship with another adult."Richard Hanks, Project Manager for Reading Matters in Sheffield and Rotherham, says:

" Reading Matters slogan is 'improve reading skills and change lives' and that is certainly what the staff from Horner Brothers have done by donating their time and energy to helping Brinsworth students."In return for the training investment and ongoing support from Reading Matters, HBPG have donated £500 to Reading Matters and are printing all the marketing and stationery materials for the charity free of charge, a mutually beneficial arrangement, as the charity is aiming to raise its profile over the coming months with a campaign promoting its good work.HBPG are trailblazers in a wave of new companies making a real difference by establishing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.