Literacy charity Chapter One will launch its unique Online Reading Volunteers Programme in Warrington in January 2026 and is looking for primary schools and local businesses to get involved.
The programme will see children aged 5-8 receive weekly 30-minute online reading sessions with volunteers from local and national businesses, all designed to build confidence and spark a love for reading at a crucial stage in their development. The charity is looking for companies who will sponsor their staff to volunteer as reading volunteers, alongside primary schools who want their pupils to benefit from this additional reading support.
With just 1 in 3 children aged 8–18 saying they enjoy reading (the lowest in 20 years) and 38% of 11 year olds in England from disadvantaged backgrounds leaving primary school unable to read to the expected standard, Chapter One aims to close the reading gap and ensure all children have the same opportunities to benefit from everything that reading provides, enabling them to thrive in life. Several Warrington wards – including Bewsey and Whitecross, Fairfield and Howley, Latchford East, Orford, and Poplars and Hulme – rank among the most deprived areas nationally for education, skills and training.
Emma Bell, CEO of Chapter One, said: “We know that giving children the right support, at the right time, can transform their futures. Through our programme, alongside developing their reading skills, the children gain confidence, feel inspired, and discover that reading can be enjoyable. That sustained, one-to-one relationship with their volunteer makes all the difference.”
The launch in Warrington comes as the government prepares for the National Year of Reading 2026, making it a particularly timely opportunity for Warrington to join this nationwide effort to get more children reading.
For more information, go to chapterone.org.uk or email hellouk@chapterone.org
