Emerald Publishing partners with Chapter One

Colleagues from across the business will volunteer to help provide reading support to children in Keighley and Bradford schools.

According to a recent report conducted by Pro Bono Economics, more than a quarter of five-year-olds in England don't meet expected levels of literacy.

From being able to experience the joy of reading, to improved opportunities later in life, literacy in early years is of vital importance. In fact, reading for pleasure among young children is more strongly correlated with academic success than their parental income levels.

This is why Emerald has partnered with Chapter One, a charity that connects schools with companies who sponsor their employees as online reading volunteers. Every week each volunteer spends 30 minutes reading with the same child throughout the academic year using Chapter One's bespoke platform. This regular, consistent reading with the same adult has proven to help transform each child's reading ability and confidence. 
 
The partnership comes as Emerald's CEO, Vicky Williams, has been made Chair of Business in the Community's Literacy Taskforce. The Taskforce is currently focusing on the Keighley area of Bradford, where Chapter One has a waiting list of schools who would like to take part. 
 
If you're part of an organisation that would like to get involved, your business can help by supporting one or more teams of 10 employee volunteers with a donation of £3,400 for each team. This helps to cover operational, equipment and training costs. Each organisation nominates a co-ordinator to lead volunteer recruitment and be the main point of contact with the charity. To find out more or to get involved contact [email protected].
 
If you're an individual who'd like to support the Literacy Taskforce's work with Chapter One, you can donate to Vicky's JustGiving page, your money will be well spent supporting vital literacy work in Bradford and Keighley. Please donate here. 
 
Join Emerald and Chapter in making a real and lasting difference to children’s lives in Bradford and Keighley.

ENDS