We want every child to read

Bookmark is a charity helping thousands of children start a new chapter in their reading journey. Gilly Pickup finds out more.

THOUSANDS of children leave primary school still struggling with basic literacy. It's  shocking, but true.

Enter Bookmark, a charity offering support through a volunteer-led reading programme.

Bookmark was established in 2018 by Sharon Pindar, who was inspired by her own experiences to set up the charity.

"I learned first-hand the devastating impact of poor literacy," Sharon tells me.

"Growing up on a rough council estate, my mum couldn't read, so couldn't do basic things such as applying for the benefits she was entitled to, or writing sick notes for me at school, cooking from a recipe or reading for the children she adored."

"Mum found it difficult to find a job and lacked confidence to challenge people when she was treated unfairly," she continues.

"Today, more than seven million adults like her struggle to read on a daily basis.

"This is why I started Bookmark with a simple vision: we want every child to read." Bookmark works across 190 schools in England.

It supports those children who have been identified by teachers as being at risk of not meeting the expected reading standard.