Education chiefs in Bradford believe Reading Matters for Life will provide invaluable tuition for youngsters with literacy problems.

That is why the South Bradford Education Action Zone has donated cash allowing the four schools in its jurisdiction to take part.

The charity is aiming to recruit volunteers to help teenagers struggling with their reading and this week the Telegraph & Argus has launched a campaign to encourage more people to offer their time.

Each volunteer will provide one-to-one support for 11 to 16-year-olds during school time which, according to Bernard Dady, director of the action zone, is a necessary intervention.

"In the south of Bradford there are a large number of children, particularly between the ages of seven and 14, who aren't making progress with reading and basic literacy skills and that acts as a barrier to other educational achievement," said Mr Dady.

"A lot of that is due to a lack of one-to-one intervention and support. Schools can't deliver that through professional staff so to enhance one-to-one support we need to draw volunteers in."

The four secondary schools within the action zone are Bradford Cathedral Community College, The Grange School, Tong School and Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College.

Lyn O'Reilly, deputy headteacher at Tong School, is delighted to be involved. She said: "I was immediately encouraged by the project because it is exactly what this school needs. Students who struggle with their reading are often embarrassed around teachers, but with an outsider they feel more comfortable.

"Had the EAZ not been around we would have tried desperately hard to fund ourselves but it has given us the opportunity to take part and take advantage of a fantastic opportunity.

"At the moment we have only one volunteer but are hoping more will come forward."

According to Mr Dady children will suffer with mainstream activities if their literacy skills are not up to standard and he believes the volunteer help would build confidence and provide role models enthusing the children to want to learn.

"Reading Matters is ideal because we needed someone who would recruit volunteers, train them and support them in the long term," he said.

"There's a desperate need in south Bradford to highlight success stories and I hope working with Reading Matters will help to focus on individual achievements."

The South Bradford Education Action Zone was established in April 2000 and is directly funded by central government and private sector sponsorship including the city's university and college and the Bradford Bulls.

Its aim over the next three years is to double GCSE success rates within the zone and improve outcomes at Key Stage Two by 50 per cent. Pictured is volunteer Doreen Betts with pupil Jordan Marshlan.