A CHARITY based in Bradford set up to improve children’s reading standards has helped more than 6,800 young people in the past year.

Reading Matters, which trains both adults and young people to read to children one-on-one in schools each week, has just released its latest annual report.

It shows that the children helped by the scheme have improved their reading age by 13 months, with some raising their reading age by up to four years.

Most of the Learning Mentors, adults trained to read to children, are based in the West and South Yorkshire areas.

The charity, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, says the figures show the vital difference that targeted one-to-one support can have on the literacy skills of children who have fallen behind their peers.

During the 2015-16 academic year Reading Matters supported 6,805 children and young people with reading – up from 6,417 last year, and the highest number of children supported in one year by the group.

Just 10 hours of one-to-one support can have a massive difference on reading skills.

The report shows that 98 per cent of children who took part in a Reading Matters intervention programme showed a “marked improvement” in reading ability. Ninety per cent said it improved their self-esteem, 86 per cent said their attitude to reading improved and 83 per cent said their communications skills improved.

Nationally, the charity trains Reading Leaders – older school pupils who act as reading role models for younger ones – in primary and secondary schools with accreditation available for peer mentors aged 14 and above. They also offer reading development workshops and accredited training for school staff and parents and carers.

Reading Mentors usually work with a child for 30 minutes twice a week, over a 10-week period. Emphasis is placed on getting to know the child and what interests them, understanding their particular difficulty with reading and on finding resources that will encourage and inspire them.

Rachel Kelly, the chief executive of Reading Matters said “I’m delighted that Reading Matters has been able to make a difference to so many young people but there remains much work to be done in ensuring that all children have the necessary literacy skills to achieve their goals. Focussed and personal one-to-one support is a great way of helping a child to catch up quickly as working in partnership with a Reading Mentor or Reading Leader is such a motivating and fun experience.”

The charity is holding a 20th anniversary fundraising ball in March.

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