Do you remember a character from a childhood book as fondly as an old friend?
If you do, you’ll know the magic of being able to slip into another world as and when you need to, or how books can make your world a bigger, brighter place.
For bookworms especially, it’s hard to believe that anyone could see reading as anything other than empowering, or even just a pleasure. For the third of children from disadvantaged areas who leave primary school without being able to read well, often it’s nothing but a chore.
That’s why we like to turn up on the doorstep, with a backpack of books, two little stools, and a pair of volunteers who know that words take you places. Every week, come rain or shine, our volunteers bring the magic of reading directly into families’ homes every week, in low income areas across west London.
Doorstep Library volunteers don’t just read stories; they do the silly voices, hand pick the books, and give special recommendations. By making it fun first, we get to watch children transform into budding readers. We love parents to get Stuck into the sessions too and encourage them to get involved in their children’s education.
Sometimes though, we’re just there to give a bit of extra support, whether we’re passing on info about a family activity, lending an ear, or even just being a friendly face. Then, before we go, we leave behind a selection of books for each child to borrow for the week.
If this sounds like the role for you, these are the basics. We run projects on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in estates across Fulham, White City, East Acton and Queen’s Park. In Hammersmith and Fulham we start at 3.45pm and finish at 6.30pm. In Westminster, we start at 4.30pm and finish at 7 pm.
Volunteering with us is a weekly commitment. If that isn’t feasible for you at the moment, please do still get in touch. We always need stand in volunteers, our projects wouldn’t run without them.
Come along to one of our Info Sessions to find out more, simply email to book your place.